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HOMERIC HYMNS.
THE
HOMERIC HYMNS
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE
JOHN EDGAR, B.A. (OxoN.); M.A. (GLASGOW)
FORMERLY SNELL EXHIBITIONER OF BALLIOL COLLEGE, NOW CLASSICAL
MASTER IN THE ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL, EDINBURGH; TRANSLATOR
OF AESCHINES IN CTESIPHONTEM
EDINBURGHJAMES THIN
55 SOUTH BRIDGE
1891
Who, fretted by the haste of fevered life,
Harks to the prisoned voice of murmurous shell,
In fancy wanders by the grey sea swell,
And rests on quiet shore mid city strife.
Great boon ! if brine-crisp air be far away,
And the blue infinite of sky be hid,
And streets monotonous be round him thrid
By care-worn mortals lacking time to stay.
So in the shell of old Homeric lays,
We hear hymned echoes from the world's prime,
When gods were shepherding on hill and plain ;
And though the simple faith, the glad surprise
Of gods revealed, the glamour of old time
Be far away, our hearts beat fresh again.
INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
THE following pages contain a translation into
English prose of the old Epic preludes and lays
known as the Homeric Hymns. The scholars of
England have imitated the great ancient critics
of Alexandria in treating the collection of poemswith unmerited coldness. The Iliad and the
Odyssey are such bright suns in the firmament of
poesy, that the lesser lights of these Hymns have
not been so conspicuous in the world of literary
scholarship as their worth and interest deserve.
They are ancient, but not ancient enough ;and
our scholars, having assured themselves that they
were Post-Homeric, have left the work of editing
and annotating them almost entirely to the
Germans. Yet the poems, more especially the
longer ones, contain much that is beautiful and
interesting to the classical student, and afford
a fertile field for the exercise of scholarly taste
and critical ability. The motto which heads Dr
Gemoll's preface is an apt one :
"o [lev Oe\a>v /ULa\e(rOat
TrapecTTi yap /xaxecrO<o."
There are certainly difficulties and obscurities
TO Homeric Hymns.
enough in the text to tempt any scholar who is
seeking for new worlds to conquer. The poemshave an interest also to the student of Mythologyand the History of Religion. They come mid-
way between Homer and the Tragedians ;and
though we find in the collection Hymns to
deities who were unknown to Homer, the simple
and rude ideas of the early Greeks still prevail.
The mystic and philosophic developments of
later times are only traced in one or two of the
more recent poems. Therefore, as Grote says,
"they do to a certain extent continue the same
stream of feeling, and the same mythical tone and
colouring as the Iliad and the Odyssey, manifest-
ing but little evidence of Egyptian, Asiatic, or
Thracian adulterations."
Their Date.
As Homer the eponymous founder of the Epic,
the author or authors of the primary Iliad and
Odyssey marked the close of the early minstrel
or ballad period, so also he marked the begin-
ning of a new Epic period, and gave rise to a
new order of minstrels. For he was succeeded bya long line of bards and reciters, first perhaps
known as Homeridae, and afterwards, when public
recitations of Homer became more and more a
recognized part of public festivals, as Rhapsodists.
The later Rhapsodists were not composers it was
Introduction. 1 1
enough for them to recite the poems of Homer,
and make them vivid and impressive to the people
of Greece;but many of the earlier were themselves
poets, and that too of no mean order. How far
they had a share in adding to and cementing the
original Iliad and Odyssey we cannot say, but it is
certain that they often recited their own composi-
tions, and sometimes even passed them off as the
offspring of the Homeric Muse. The Homeric
Hymns are a collection of original preludes and
Epic lays recited by these Homeric Rhapsodists.
They are not the work of any one author or age.
It is improbable that any of them was composedearlier than the first Olympiad B.C. 776, thoughM tiller was of opinion that this collection contained
specimens belonging to every century between
Homer and the Persian wars.
Of the longer Hymns, that to Aphrodite is
probably the oldest, and that to Hermes the latest.
Many even of the shorter poems contain some
phrase or reference to guide us in fixing a probable
date-limit. The great majority belong to the
period between B.C. 700 and B.C. 450; but for a
full discussion of the age of the individual poemsI must refer the reader to the notes of Baumeister
and Gemoll.
If we accept the now commonly received doctrine
that the Iliad and the Odyssey had received their
present complete form by B.C. 800, then there is no
1 2 Homeric Hymns.
doubt at all that the whole of the Hymns are Post-
Homeric. But Professor Jebb, in his book on
Homer (p. 155), says, "The bulk of the Homeric
poems must be older than B.C. 800, although some
particular additions to them are later ;" and again
(p. 173), in discussing the age of the Odyssey,"It
cannot be shown, then, that Kirchhoff has gone too
low in assigning circ. 660 B.C. as the date of the
second enlargement." If we take advantage of
these admissions of modern scholarship, it is at
least within the bounds of probability that the
poets who composed the Hymn to Aphrodite and
the Delian Apollo had some share in giving to the
Iliad and the Odyssey their present form, and are
not without a fair claim to be sheltered under the
great name of Homer. That many authors at
different times must have had a share in the com-
position of these Hymns is shown by their great
internal differences of style and language, and
also by the fact that some of them are evidently
copies and imitations of others (vide Gemoll,
p. 103). One of them indeed is a literal trans-
cription from Hesiod, and another undoubtedly
owes its origin to the Boeotian School. Most of
the important Hymns contain some hint to guide us
in fixing the place where they were recited;and
their geographical range, like their date of com-
position, covers a wide area. Thus the Hymn to
the Delian Apollo was doubtless recited at Delos,
Introduction. \ 3
and that to the Pythian Apollo at Delphi. The
Hymn to Ceres belongs to the Panathenaic Fes-
tival. The Hymns to Dionysus (vii. and xxvi.)
were apparently recited at the Brauronia, and
Hymn ix. (To Diana) at the temple of the
goddess at Colophon.
Their Name and Origin.
There has been a good deal of discussion as to
the name given to this collection of poems. The
word Hymn suggests to us a sacred lyric or songin honour of the Deity. And V/JLVOS, from which the
word is derived, carried with it in classical Greek
a similar connotation. Now the poems under con-
sideration are not lyrics, and their name is used in a
more general sense, though they all contain some
invocation to a god. Both by nature and history
they differ from lyric and choral song, and claim
near kinship with the Epic poems of the Homeric
School. The word vjmvos, being derived from the
stemv(f>,
to weave, would have a root meaning of" web." And from this comes the general mean-
ing"song
"or "
lay." Hermann denies that the
ancients have any such usage of the word, but later
scholars have brought forward several quotations
to prove that he was wrong. For example, Od.
viii. 429 "aotcJj/9 v^vov a/coiW." Hesiod," Works
and Days" 662; Theogony, 101. It is probable,
therefore, that the word "17x1/09" as applied to
1 4 Homeric Hymns.
these poems, is to be understood in this general
sense of "song" or "lay." And the formula so
often used at the end of these poems,"yuera/^o-o/zcu
aXXov e? v/mvov" will strengthen the probability for
us, if we remember that the poems were being
recited at some contest of Homeric Rhapsodists.
From the frequent occurrence of such phrases as
TToJ? T apa or' vjui.w}<T(0 in poems narrating some
incident in the life of a god or hero, the word
v/mvo<f acquired by association its later and more
specific meaning of a song in honour of a god.
Thus the Scholiast to Soph. Electra defines it
"17x1/0? /ciy>09 / e/9 Oeov &/."
Strange to say the word Trpooipiov, which some
consider the more correct title for these poems, has
quite the opposite history. Its original applica-
tion was to Hymns in honour of Apollo (Thucy.,
iii. 104), who, as patron of song, was generally first
invoked in the poetical contests at the Festivals.
From that special use it became generalised and
was employed in the sense of prelude.
Mure, in his"History of Greek Literature," vol.
ii., divides the Hellenic Hymns into three classes
Mythical, Mystical, and Philosophical. It is to
the first or Mythical class that the Hymns in this
collection almost entirely belong, as dealing with
the genealogy, actions, and attributes of the
Hellenic Gods. The Mystical and Philosophical
classes are represented by the Orphic collection, to
Introduction. 1 5
which the Hymn to Ares (viii.) ought also to be
added. These Homeric Hymns again naturally
divide themselves into ist, A great many short
poems ; 2nd, Six or seven of considerable length
and distinctly Epic in character.
To have a clear understanding of the nature and
origin of these Hymns, we must keep before us the
fact that the ancient minstrels or ballad singers,
who sang to the accompaniment of the lyre at the
feasts in princely houses, gave place from the time
of Homer downwards to the professional Reciter or
Rhapsodist. The Epic metre was unsuited to a
musical accompaniment, the word aetSeiv came to
mean "recite," and for a period the lyre was
retained only as a tribute to conventional usage.
A staff was the later symbol of the minstrel's office.
To the great Festivals held in various parts of
Greece the Rhapsodists gathered. Down to the sixth
century they probably had complete freedom of
choice, and recited poems composed by themselves
as well as the notable Epics. Afterwards, as the liv-
ing editions of Homer, they made known through-
out the country the great poems which told the story
of the gods and heroes. Prizes were given to the
most successful or the most popular, and in several
of the Hymns before us the Rhapsodist, who still
calls himself a minstrel, prays to the god for honour
and success. Now it was the prevalent custom that
before the recital proper of the Epic Rhapsody
1 6 Homeric Hymns.
began, an invocation or prelude to some god was
delivered by the Rhapsodists. It was like the
opening psalm which so often in our own dayinitiates a religious service or a public ceremony.
These exordia or preludes were doubtless in most
cases composed by the Rhapsodist himself to suit
his own taste and the requirements of the special
Festival. The twenty-eight smaller poems in this
collection seem then, with only one or two excep-
tions, to be specimens of these religious preludes.
The nature and general drift of the poems supports
this, and there are two phrases which establish it
beyond a doubt.
H. xxxi. 1 8.c
'e/c cre'o 8' a/o^a/xei/o? /cA>/creo
yei/o? avSpwv Jj/miOeow."
H. xxxii. 1 8."creo c>' apdju.evo$ K\ea
acro/xcu rjjuuOecov, &v K\iovcr' e/>y/xar' aoiSoi.''
The Locus Classiciis, which proves generally that
it was customary at these Epic contests to recite
an opening Hymn to the gods, is Plutarch de
Musica, c. 4."TO. TT/OO? rof? Oeovg, w? j3ov\ovrai,
a<f)O<Ti(i)a'd/u.ei'oi e^ejSaivov evOvs em re Tr\v 'Qjui'ipov
KO.I TWJ/ a\\b)i> 7roirj<Tiv."
To the same effect writes the Scholiast to Pindar.
Nem. ii. "0X059 yap OUTOI V TOV Ata 7rpooi/uuacraju.vvi
TOWTtvQev t]8r) T^? eTTOTrot/a? //TTTOJ/TO."
It is just possible, however, that some of these
short poems served not as opening but as closing
Hymns in the rhapsodic recitals. The phrase
Introduction. 1 7
"TT/OCOTOJ/ K.O.L v(rra.TOv aeiSeiv
"shows that the god
invoked at the beginning would also be honoured
at the end. And at the close of several Hymns,
e.g., xxi., we find the formula KO.L <rv oura) x"/ e
without any transition verse to suggest that other
poems were to follow. The assumption, therefore,
is a legitimate one, that these may have been
end-poems, marking the completion of a series
of Rhapsodies.
The longer Hymns.
But what are we to say about the six longer
Hymns viz., To the Delian Apollo, the Pythian
Apollo, Hermes, Aphrodite, Ceres, and Dionysus ?
Even an uncritical mind must see that these are
too long, if not also too secular in spirit, to be
religious opening Hymns. The most natural, as
well as the most generally accepted belief, is that
they were not introductions to rhapsodies, but
rhapsodies themselves, making up along with
other similar poems or extracts from Homer a
Rhapsodic series. They may, of course, have
been the inaugural poems in their respective
series. The Hymns to Apollo would doubtless
take the first place in accordance with general
usage, and the closing verse of the Hymn to
Aphrodite, "<reu 8 eyw ap^d/jievos, &c.," makes it
certain that this poem also occupied the same
position. The formulae at the end of the HymnsB
1 8 Homeric Hymns.
to Hermes and Demeter show at least that other
poems were still to be recited by the same
rhapsodist.
Mure thinks that the Delian and Pythian
Hymns "may have originally succeeded each
other in the customary order of celebration, the
one as prooemium, descriptive of Apollo's birth,
the other recording the spread of his influence,"
and that they may have got run together into
one by a natural confusion of the editors. But
though the original editors did indeed confound
them into one, it could hardly have been for this
reason. The Pythian Hymn is a later production,
and in its structure bears so curious a resemblance
to the other that it must have been an imitation.
Moreover, it is almost certain that the one was
recited at Delos, and the other at Delphi.
These larger Hymns, then, are Epic Lays, havingas their central theme some action of a deity,
round which other incidents or characteristics
group themselves, but never in such proportions
as to mar the poetic unity of the poem. They are
closely allied in character with the Song of the
minstrel Demodocus in the Odyssey, which mightbe called a Homeric Hymn to Hephaestus if the
usual formulae of invocation were added. These
Hymns, then, may be said to carry on the tradition
of the earlier Balladists, whose songs led up to
and were absorbed in the great Epics of Homer.
Introduction. 1 9
Why attributed to Homer ?
The conventional usage of antiquity was to attri-
bute these Hymns to Homer. But the name, doubt-
less, was meant in many cases to stand not for the
person of the poet, but his school. Sometimes
they are spoken of as"
ei? "Q^pov ava<pepoiu.evoi,"
and "e7riypa(j>6iui.evoi 'Q/uu'ipw." There is no doubt,
however, that Thucydides believed in Homer's
authorship of the Delian Hymn to Apollo. In
Book III., 104, while speaking of Delos he makes
some quotations from that poem which he calls a
irpooi.ij.iov. The passage containing the reference
to Homer's authorship is as follows :
"on. Je /tat
ju.ov(riKrjs aya>i> yv /ecu ayuiviovinevoi e<f>oiT<0v, ev roicrSe
au t]\ot, a (TT\V CK TOV avTOv 7rpooijut.iov' TOV yap
A//X<a/coi/ xP v T(av yvvaiKUtv vfjLvijaras ereXeJra TOV
eiraivov e? ra^e ra eTrtj, ev o?? KUI tavTOv eTrejuvrja-Ot]."
The testimony of Thucydides is always weighty,
and his words at any rate prove that even in the
best educated circles of Athens, Homer was con-
sidered the author of the Delian Hymn. But
Thucydides was not a professional critic, and in
his day literary criticism was but in its infancy,
though the standard of poetic taste was high.
And it is fairly certain, that though it is not im-
possible that the author of this Hymn may have
had some share in the latest additions to the Iliad
or the Odyssey, he must have flourished at a later
2o Homeric Hymns.
period than the real composers of these Epics.
For not to mention points of diction, we mayrecall the fact pointed out by Strabo, that Samos
to Homer always meant Samothrace;that Delos
is only once mentioned in the Odyssey, and had
evidently not yet risen to fame;and further, the
word Trpvraveveiv in i. 68 suggests the conclu-
sion of Baumeister, that the Greek colonies of Asia
Minor had by this time been founded.
The testimony of Thucydides, however, strength-
ens the other evidence which goes to prove that the
author could not have been Cinaethus of Chius, if
he flourished about the 6pth Olympiad. A poem
composed only some eighty years before his own
time would hardly have been attributed to Homer
by the great historian. We are only justified in
inferring from the famous closing lines of the
Delian Hymn, that its author was a blind man,
who lived in Chios, wandered about reciting his
poetry from city to city, claimed for himself
persuasive influence, and for his poems immortal
renown : and finally lived at a period when Delos
had become famous from its connection with
Apollo, and gathered crowds of lonians to its
Festivals. In addition to Thucydides, many other
classical authors of considerable antiquity ascribe
the Hymns to Homer : e.g. yHerodotus in Life of
Homer, Suidas, Pausanias, Diodorus. But in
most cases they merely represent the conventional
Introduction- 2 1
opinion, and their evidence goes for little in face
of the results of later criticism.
Since, then, the Hymns were not composed by
Homer, as being of later date than the first
Olympiad, when the Iliad and the Odyssey seem
to have been practically as complete as we now
have them, how did they come to be attributed
to him ?
Various answers have been given to the ques-
tion. Some who trace the influence of the Orphic
School in many of the poems, assert that poets of
that school to win honour for their own produc-
tions ascribed them to Homer;others that they
were well known as having been recited at the
contests of Homeric Rhapsodists, and were thus
connected with Homer's name. Groddeck, Ilgen,
and others consider that their Epic style caused
them to be attributed to the founder of Epic
poetry ;and Wolf thought that, like so many other
anonymous poems, they were fathered on the name
which stood out most prominently. To a similar
effect Mure says :
" The deference paid to Homer
by his own immediate successors amounted to so
close a spirit of imitation as to have caused the
principal Epic productions of the ensuing age,
amid the uncertainty as to their real authors, to be
classed in popular usage as inferior productions of
his own muse." Bergk and Gemoll hold that the
real reason is to be found in the closing verses of
22 Homeric Hymns.
the Hymn to the Delian Apollo. There the
author calls himself a blind singer, and according
to the popular legend Homer was blind. Gemoll
points out the possibility that the legend about
the blindness was itself derived from the Hymn,and that the reputation of its authorship may be
older than the legend. But he finds a further
proof in the bard's prophecy that his poems will be
immortal, for he holds that to a Greek, immortal
verse would at once suggest Homer. It is evident
that these reasons are not inconsistent with each
other, and that where so many explanations can
be given, the result could not have been very
difficult to bring about
The Collection.
The collection of Hymns before us is of con-
siderable antiquity, and though we cannot with
accuracy fix its date, it seems to have existed in
the third century B.C., and to have been ascribed to
Homer. We find testimony for this in various
references, quotations, and imitations. Antigonus
Carystius quotes the Hymn to Hermes when dis-
cussing the number of strings on the ancient lyre.
Diodorus, i. 1 5, &c., praises" Homer in the
Hymns." The statement of Pausanias that the
Orphic Hymns for beauty rank next to the Hymnsof Homer, seems to imply a knowledge of some col-
lection like that before us. It is probable also that
Introduction. 23
Callimachus and Theocritus knew the Hymns, for
they have written several conscious or unconscious
imitations. And the same may be said about
Apollonius Rhodius, on the strength of the great
resemblance between Book IV., 877, &c., to a
passage in the Hymn to Demeter.
It is curious, in view of the many references to
the Hymns by important classical writers from
Thucydides downwards, that the Alexandrine
scholars, the leading ancient authorities on
Homeric matters, should have so completely over-
looked and neglected them. Their silence re-
garding them is so complete that the only scholia
which can be quoted to show that they knew them
at all, go no further back than the age of Augustus,
and therefore do not come near the dates of their
greatest scholars, Zenodotus and Aristarchus.
Wolf thought that they intentionally ignored
them as being non-Homeric. And the very
results of their scholarly researches prove that
they did not consider the Hymns to illustrate
Homeric usage. For example, they assert that
Homer in his poems makes no mention of himself,
and their statements about Homeric geography
show that they took no account at all of the use
in the Hymns of Samos, Europa, and Peloponnesus.
Whatever was the reason for their silence, it is
difficult to believe that it was complete ignorance
of the poems.
24 Homeric Hymns.
Whoever the person was that brought together
in one volume these Hymns, he must have had an
imperfect acquaintance with Homeric poetry, or he
would not have admitted the Hymn to Ares (viii.),
a poem with all the characteristics of the Orphic
School. There are others of the Hymns which
have but a doubtful claim to their position, and
the twenty-fifth is a mere patchwork of Hesiodic
verses.
Baumeister thinks that after a period of flitting
existence from mouth to mouth of the rhapsodists,
the poems were committed to writing, and were
finally collected by some librarian. The condi-
tion of the text makes it clear that this was done
not with the critical skill and loving care of a
scholar anxious to retain their original beauty,
but with careless haste by a man of inferior
education. A great deal has been done for the
text by German editors. It still, however, leaves
much to be desired, and we hope that some good
English edition will be published before long.
The need is great.
The text used in preparing this translation was
that of Augustus Baumeister (Trubner, Leipsig,
1860). Where I have departed from his reading,
the one preferred is given in a footnote. I have
Introduction. 25
consulted the editions and annotations of Ilgen
and Hermann, but have derived most assistance
from the notes and introductory essays of Bau-
meister and Dr Albert Gemoll. The edition of
Dr Gemoll (Trubner, Leipsig, 1886) is in every
respect a valuable one, embodying as it does
within its pages the most recent results of German
scholarship.
EDINBURGH, 1890.
TRANSLATI ON.
CONTENTS
I. To THE DELIAN APOLLO . . . 29-35II. To THE PYTHIAN APOLLO . . . 36-50
III. To HERMES ..... 50-73IV. To APHRODITE .... 73-84.
V. To DEMETER . . . .84-103VI. To APHRODITE .... 103-104VII. To DIONYSUS .... 104-106
VIII. To ARES 106
IX. To ARTEMIS..... 107
X. To APHRODITE .... 107XL To ATHENE ..... 108
XII. To HERA ..... 108
XIII. To DEMETER .... 109XIV. To THE MOTHER OF THE GODS . . 109XV. To HERACLES .... 109XVI. To ASCLEPIUS . . . . noXVII. To THE DIOSCURI . . . . noXVIII. To HERMES noXIX. To PAN . . . . .111-113XX. To HEPHAESTUS . . . . 113XXI. To APOLLO . . . . . 114XXII. To POSEIDON . . . . 114XXIII. To ZEUS . . . . . 114XXIV. To HESTIA 115XXV. To THE MUSES AND APOLLO . . 115XXVI. To DIONYSUS . . . . 115XXVII. To ARTEMIS . . . . . 116
XXVIII. To ATHENE 117XXIX. To HESTIA 118
XXX. To THE MOTHER OF ALL .
'
. . 119XXXI. To HELIOS . . . . . 120
XXXII. To SELENE ..... 121
XXXIII. To THE DIOSCURI .... 122
XXXIV. To DIONYSUS (A FRAGMENT) . . 123
THE HOMERIC HYMNS.
i.
TO THE DELIAN APOLLO.
I SHALL remember and forget not Apollo, the
Far Darter, at whose step down the hall of Zeus the
gods tremble. Yea, they all start up from their
seats when he cometh nigh, holding bent his
shining bow. Leto alone abideth by Zeus the
Thunderer;
she slackeneth his bow-string and
shutteth his quiver, and from his stalwart shoulders
taketh his bow with her hands and hangeth it on a
golden peg against the pillar of his sire. There-
withal she leads him to his seat. And his father
welcomes his dear son, giving him nectar in a
golden cup. Then first do the other gods seat
them there. And queenly Leto is glad withal in
that she hath borne as a son the mighty Archer.
(Hail, O Leto! Blessed in bearing glorious children
Apollo the King, and Artemis the Huntress
thy son in rugged Delos, thy daughter in Ortygia
crouching against the long bent of the Cynthian
hill near a palm tree by the streams of Inopus.)
How shall I praise thee fully, praised as thou art
30 Homeric Hymns.
in many a hymn ? To thee, O Phoebus, above all
have been allotted the fields (vo/j-oi) of song, both
on the calf-rearing mainland, and from isle to isle.
Thou hast had delight in all rocks, in the steep crags
of tall mountains, in rivers hurrying seaward, in
shingles sloping to the tide, and harbours of the sea.
Shall I sing how Leto bore thee first, a joy to menas she lay on Mount Cynthus, in the rugged
isle of sea-washed Delos, on whose either side
the dark wave drifted landward before the shrill
breezes ? There wert thou born, and thou art Lord
of all the folk within the borders of Crete and
Athens, the isle Aegina, and Euboea, famous on
the sea, Piresian Aegae, and sea-bound Pepar-
ethus, Thracian Athos, and the peaks of Pelion,
Thracian Samos and the shadowy heights of Ida,
Scyros and Phocaea and the steep hill of Autocane,
fair-built Imbros, and inhospitable Lemnos, goodly
Lesbos, the seat of Aeolian Macar, and Chios,
richest isle that nestles in the sea, craggy Mimas
and the peaks of Corycus, bright Claros and the
steep hill of Aesagea, watery Samos, the lofty
heights of Mycale, Miletus and Cos, the city of
the Meropes, and towering Cnidus, and windy
Carpathus, and Naxos, and Paros, and rocky
Rhenaea. Thus widely did Leto fare in travail
with the Far Darter if peradventure any of the
lands would be willing to give a home to her son.
But they trembled sore and were afraid, and no
Translation. 3 1
land dared to welcome Phoebus, not even the most
fertile, till queenly Leto set foot upon Delos, and
questioned her with winged words : "O Delos, would
that thou wert willing to be the home of my son,
Phoebus Apollo, and to let raise him a rich temple.
None other god will ever choose thee, nor honour
thee, nor wilt thou ever, methinketh, be rich in
cattle nor in sheep, nor wilt thou bear corn, or growcountless trees. But if thou possessest a temple of
Apollo the Far Darter, all men will gather hither
to thee, bringing hecatombs, and thou wilt ever
have plenteous incense . . . from alien hands as
thy soil is infertile."
Thus she spoke, and Delos was glad, and said in
reply :" O Leto, glorious daughter of mighty Corus,
gladly should I welcome the birth of the Far Dart-
ing Prince, for verily I have a sorry name amongmen, and hereby should I wax high in honour.
But I tremble, Leto, at this rumour. I shall
not hide it from thee. Exceeding haughty, they
say, will Apollo be, and high lordship will he hold
over immortal gods and mortal folk on the rich
cornlands. Therefore I sorely dread in mind and
heart, lest whenas first he beholdeth the sunlight,
he may scorn mine island, for rocky is my soil, and
spurning me with his foot may drive me under the
depths of the sea. Then for ever a great wave will
wash over my head in its strength. And to some
other land which delighteth him will he go to fashion
32 Homeric Hymns.
him a temple and leafy groves. And on me the
sea-urchins will make them their nests and the
black seals their lairs in safety from lack of men.
But if thou wert minded, Goddess, to swear me a
solemn oath that here first he will build a beauti-
ful temple to be a shrine for mortals . . . then
among all mankind, since his fame is wide."
Thus Delos spake. And Leto swore the great
solemn oath of the gods: "Bear me witness, O Earth
and wide Heaven above, and downward flowing
waters of Styx, the greatest and dreadest oath
among the blessed gods. Verily here there shall
be for ever a fragrant altar and garth of Apollo,
and thee will he honour above all."
When she had sworn and ended the oath, Delos
greatly rejoiced at the coming of the Far Darting
King, But for nine days -and nights was Leto
pierced with desperate pangs. With her were all
the worthiest goddesses, Dione and Rheia, and
Ichnaean Themis, and moaning Amphitrite, and
the other immortal ones save white-armed Hera'
(for she sat in the halls of Zeus the Cloud Gatherer).
Eilithuia alone, the Helper in travail, had not heard
the tidings thereof. She was sitting on the top of
Olympus, under the golden clouds by the planning
of white-armed Hera, who was detaining her in
jealousy, whenas fair-tressed Leto was soon to
bring forth her stalwart blameless son.
But the goddesses sent forth Iris from the fair-
Translation. 33
set island to bring Eilithuia, and promised her a
great golden necklace, braided with amber, nine
cubits long. Their bidding was to call her aloof
from white-armed Hera, lest even then Hera byher words might turn her from her going. Whenswr
ift, wind-footed Iris had heard their bidding, she
hasted on apace and quickly accomplished all
the distance. On reaching the home of the gods,
steep Olympus, she straightway called Eilithuia
to the door from out the hall, and spake to her
winged words, all just as the Olympian goddesses
had bidden. And she persuaded the heart of
Eilithuia in her breast. And they fared forth
afoot, moving like timorous wild doves.
When Eilithuia, Helper of Travail, had come to
Delos, then did labour take hold of Leto, and she
was fain to be delivered. Round a palm tree she
threw her arms, and pressed her knees on the soft
sward. The earth smiled beneath her. So the
child sprang forth to the light, and the goddesses
raised the birth-shout. Then, O Phoebus, Sung of
Men, did the goddesses bathe thee in fair water
clean and pure, and wrap thee in swaddling clothes,
white, dainty, and newly woven, and round thee put
a golden girdle. His mother suckled not Apollo
of the Golden Sword, but Themis hanselled his
immortal lips with nectar and sweet ambrosia.
And Leto was glad because she was the mother of
a brave son, The Archer. But as soon, O Pheobus,C
34 Homeric Hymns.
as thou hadst eaten the food divine, no longer did
the golden girdle hold thee for thy panting, nor
the bands confine thee, but all the ends were
loosed. And straightway to the immortal ones
did Phoebus Apollo say, "Give me a dear lyre
and a curving bow, and to men shall I declare
the true counsel of Zeus." With these words he
began to walk over the broad-wayed earth
Phoebus, the Unshorn, the Far Darter. Andall the goddesses marvelled. The whole of
Delos bloomed in gold, as when a hill-top is
laden with tree-blossoms, beholding the child of
Zeus and Leto, and in joyance that the god had
chosen her for his home before the isles and the
mainland, and loved her more dearly.
All by thyself, O King of the Silver Bow, Far
Darting Apollo, didst thou now fare over craggy
Cynthus, anon wander among the islands and the
folk. Many are thy temples and wooded groves.
Dear to thee are all the heights and sharp fore-
lands of tall mountains and rivers flowing seaward,
but chiefly dost thou delight thy heart in Delos,
where the long-robed lonians gather in thine
honour with their children and chaste wives.
They give thee joy, celebrating thee with boxingand dancing and song when they hold their
Festival. Whoso meeteth the lonians at their
gatherings will say that they are immortal and
ageless. For he will see the beauty of them all,
Translation. 35
and delight his soul with gazing on their men and
their fair-girdled women, their swift ships and their
many possessions. And withal there is this great
marvel, the fame of which will never perish to
wit, the damsels of Delos, hand-maidens of the
Far Darter, who, when first they have sung of
Apollo, make mention of Leto and Artemis the
Huntress, chanting a hymn about the men and
women of old, and charm the kindreds of the
folk. And they wot how to imitate the tones and
dance-step* of all men. Each would fancy that
himself were singing, so well is their fair song
woven together.
But now gracious be Apollo and Artemis !
Farewell, ye maidens all ! Remember me even in
days to come, when any wandering stranger of
earth-born men wendeth hither and asketh,41 Maidens ! who is the sweetest to you of the
minstrels faring hither, and in whom take ye most
delight?" Do ye one and all make the friendly
answer, "A blind man, who dwelleth in rocky
Chios. His songs will be the best even in days to
come." And I shall bear your fame, far as I
travel over the earth to fair-builded cities. Andmen will believe me, since sooth it is. But I shall
not cease singing of Far Darting Apollo of the
Silver Bow, whom Leto the Fair Tressed bore.
* Or " musical accompaniment."
36 Homeric Hymns.
ii.
TO THE PYTHIAN APOLLO.
O King, thine are Lycia, and lovely Maeonia,
and Miletus, the fair city by the sea, and thou too
art the mighty Lord of wave-washed Delos.
The Son of glorious Leto fareth to rocky Pytho,
playing on his bent lyre his divine raiment
fragrant with incense, and sweet is the tone of his
lyre beneath the golden plectrum. Thence from
earth to Olympus, swift as thought, he hieth to the
assembly of the other gods at the hall of Zeus.
Straightway the immortals bethink them of harpand song. And all the Muses in joint refrain
chant with sweet voices of the divine gifts of the
gods and the sorrows of men which by the deal-
ings of the deathless gods they bear, living reckless
and helpless ;nor can they find a cure for death
or defence against old age. But the fair-tressed
Graces and blithe Seasons; Harmony, and Hebe,
and Aphrodite, Daughter of Zeus, hold each the
other's hand at the wrist and dance. Among them
danceth one, neither unfair nor unstately nay,
very tall to look upon, and lovely in form
Artemis the Huntress, sister to Apollo. Andamid them sport Ares and the keen-eyed Slayer
of Argos. But Phoebus Apollo playeth the lyre.
Translation. 37
High and graceful is his step. Round him flasheth
the gleam of twinkling feet and of fair-woven robe.
And they are glad in their great hearts Leto of
the Golden Tresses, and Zeus the Counsellor to
see their dear son sporting amid the immortal gods.
How shall I praise thee fully, praised as thou art
in many a hymn ? Shall I sing of thee amongsuitors and love-making how thou didst go a-
wooing the damsel Azanis, with god-like Ischus,
Elation's son, the lover of horses ? or Phorbas, son
of Triopes, or Amarynthus ? or how along with
Leucippus and the wife of Leucippus . . . thyself
afoot, he on the chariot . . . ?
Or how at first in quest of an oracle for men
thou didst fare to earth, O Far Darting Apollo ? To
Pieria first thou didst descend from Olympus, and
didst go to Lacmus and Emathea, and Enienae,
and through Perrhaebia. Soon thou earnest to
lolcus, and didst set foot upon Cenaeum in
Euboea, famed for ships. And thou didst stand
on the Plain of Lelantum. But it pleased not thy
heart to raise a temple there and wooded grove.
Thence crossing Euripus, O Far Darter, thou
faredst up the rich green fell, and therefrom
didst speedily reach Mycalessus on thy way and
meadowy Teumessus. And thou earnest to the
forest-clad site of Thebes, for not yet in sacred
Thebes did any one of mortals dwell. Nor were
there yet roads or paths along the wheat-bearing
38 Homeric Hymns.
plain of Thebes. All was forest. Thence thou
didst hie forward, Far Darting Apollo, and come
to Onchestus, the splendid grove of Poseidon.
There the new-broke colt takes fresh breath though
spent with dragging the beautiful chariot. Andhis driver, good though he be, leaps to the ground
from the car and foots it on the road. The colts
meanwhile freed from guidance, rattle along the
empty chariot. If they lead it within the wooded
grove, their masters let them feed, and leave the
chariot tilted. Such was the olden rite. Andthe drivers pray to King (Poseidon), and the
providence of the god now guard eth the car.
Thence didst thou hie forward, Far Darting
Apollo, and get thee next to the fair-flowing
Cephissus, which from Lilaea poureth forth its
fair stream. Crossing this, and passing turretted
Ocalea, thou didst thereafter come to grassy
Haliartus. And thou didst set foot upon Tel-
phussa. This peaceful spot did please thee
whereon to raise a temple and wooded grove.
Hard by Telphussa thou didst stand, and speakthis word to her :
" O Telphussa, here do I purposeto build a beautiful temple as an oracle for menwho will ever come hither to consult me, bringing
perfect hecatombs, the dwellers both in rich Pelo-
ponnesus, and in Europe and the sea-girt isles.
To them, one and all, shall I rede true dooms
giving responses in my rich temple.
Translation. 39
Thus spoke Phoebus Apollo, and marked out
fully the foundations broad and very long. But
Telphussa at the sight was wroth at heart, and thus
addressed him :
" O Phoebus, King, Far Darter !
one word shall I set in thine heart. Inasmuch as
thou art purposing to build here a beautiful templeto be a shrine for men who will ever be bringing
thee hither perfect hecatombs, one thing would I
tell thee, and do thou lay it up in thine heart.
Ever will the clatter of swift horses annoy thee,
and the watering of mules at my sacred springs.
And some of mortals will wish rather to gaze on
the goodly chariots and hear the clatter of nimble
steeds, than (to see) thy great temple and the
many treasures within it.
" But if thou wilt reck my rede though thou art
stronger, O King, and mightier than I, and sovran
is thy power build for thyself in Crissa amongthe foldings of Parnassus. There will neither fair
chariots shake, nor swift steeds clatter around thy
well-builded altar; but in peace will the famous
kindreds of men bring their gifts to la-paeon, and
glad at heart wilt thou receive the goodly sacrifices
of the neighbouring folk."
With these words she persuaded the mind of the
Far Darter to the end that she, Telphussa, alone
might have glory'
in the land, and not the Far
Darter.
Thence didst thou fare forward, Far-casting
40 Homeric Hymns.
Apollo, and come to the city of the Phlegyes, an
overweening folk, who recking nought of Zeus,
dwelt in the land within a fair glen near the Lake
of Cephissus. Therefrom apace thou didst quickly
advance to the uplands. And thou gattest thee to
Crissa, beneath snowy Parnassus, a slope that faced
the west. Above it hangs a cliff, and beneath run
the shaggy hollows of the glen. There Phoebus
Apollo, the King, trysted him to build a beautiful
temple, and spake these words :
" Here do I pur-
pose to build a beautiful temple as an oracle for
men who will ever come hither to consult me, bring-
ing perfect hecatombs the dwellers both in rich
Peloponnesus, and in Europe and the sea-girt isles.
To them, one and all, shall I rede true dooms
giving responses in my rich temple."
Thus spake Phoebus Apollo, and marked out
fully the foundations broad and very long. And
upon them Trophonius and Agamedes, sons of
Erginus, dear to the immortal gods, built an inner
shrine of stone, and round it countless tribes of menraised a temple of polished stones, to be sung of
for ever. Near by is a clear flowing spring, where
the King, the son of Zeus, with his mighty bowslew a dragoness, stark and huge, a monster fierce,
which was working much harm to the people in
the land, both to the folk themselves, and to their
long-shanked sheep for it was a cruel pest.
Erstwhile did the dragoness receive from golden-
Translation. 4 1
throned Hera the dire and terrible Typhaon, and
rear him a curse to men. To him did Hera give
birth because of her anger at Father Zeus, whenas
Cronides had begotten from his head glorious
Athene. Straightway was queenly Hera wroth,
and spake thus among the assembled gods." Hear
from me, ye gods and goddesses all, how Zeus,
the Cloud Gatherer, beginneth to dishonour me
though he hath made me his dutiful wife. Even
now he hath without mine aid begotten the bright-
eyed Athene, who excelleth among all the blessed
immortals. Whereas mine own son Hephaestus, the
halt of foot, is the meanest among all the gods,*
whom I myself erst raised^ in my hands and hurled
down, casting him into the broad sea. But Thetis,
the daughter of Nereus, the Silver-footed, received
him and nursed him among her sisters. Would
that other favour she had done to the immortal
gods ! Cruel and crafty Zeus ! what new device is
this ? How hast thou dared of thyself to give birth
to bright-eyed Athene ? Could not I have brought
her forth ? Yea, and thine entirely hath she been
called among the immortals who keep wide heaven.
Beware now, that I devise not for thee some future
ill. Yea, I shall forthwith contrive that a son be
born to me who shall excel among the immortal
gods, and that without dishonouring thy sacred
*v. 139. Read with Gemoll,
" ov re TTOT' CUTT)," and remove
asterisks.
42 Homeric Hymns.
bed or mine own. And I shall not go to thy
couch, but abiding far aloof from thee I shall
consort with the immortal gods." Thus having
spoken she moved away from the gods with angry
heart. Then forthwith prayed Ox-eyed Queenly
Hera, and striking the ground with down-turned
hand, uttered this word :
" Hear me now, O Earth
and broad Heaven above, and ye Titans divine who
dwell beneath the ground in vast Tartarus, and from
whom spring gods and men. List to me now all
of you, and grant me a son without the aid of Zeus,
in nought inferior to him in strength. Nay, stronger
may he be, as far as Zeus the Far-seer is stronger
than Cronos."
With these words she struck the ground with
the palm of her hand. Arid Earth the life-giver
moved. Hera at the sight rejoiced in her
heart, for she weened that her prayer was fulfill-
ing. Thenceforth for a full year she came not
once to the bed of Zeus the Counsellor, nor
to his beautiful seat as aforetime (when she sat
thereon and planned shrewd counsels), but Ox-
eyed Queenly Hera abode in her temples where
many pray, and took delight in her sacrifices.
Now when the days and nights of the revolving
year were being accomplished and the seasons
came round, she brought forth a child like neither
unto gods nor men the dire and terrible Typhaona curse for mortals. Forthwith the Ox-eyed
Translation. 43
Queenly Hera took him up and gave him to the
dragoness, thereby joining plague to plague. Andthe dragoness received him : and many were the
woes she wrought among the famous kindreds of
men.
Whosoever met her, on him she would bring the
day of doom, until the King, Far Darting Apollo,
let loose upon her his arrow in his strength. Then
rent with grievous pangs she lay panting sorely
and rolling over the ground. A weird, awful
sound arose. Hither and thither through the
wood full many times she rolled, and left her
murderous soul in death. Over her Phoebus
Apollo invoked this curse :
" There now rot uponthe fruitful ground. Thou at least shalt no longer
live to be a woeful scourge to the folk who eating
the fruit of the fertile land shall bring hither
perfect hecatombs. In nowise from ruthless death
shall Typhoeus nor the hateful Chimaera shield
thee, but the swart Earth and Hyperion the Slayer
shall rot thee where thou liest."
Thus did he speak his curse. But darkness
shrouded her eyes. And the sacred might of
Helios rotted her where she lay. Hence now is
she called Pytho. Him they hight the Pythian
King, for there where she lay the strength of the
fleet Helios rotted the monster.
Then did Phoebus Apollo wot in his heart whythe fair-flowing Fountain had bewrayed him.
44 Homeric Hymns.
Wroth against Telphussa he set out, and speedily
was come. Hard by her he took his stand, and
thus addressed her :
"Telphussa, it was not fated
that by deceiving my heart thou shouldest keepthis goodly land and pour forth thy fair waters.
Here my fame too shall flourish, not thine alone."
The King, the Far Darting Apollo, spake and
pushed a rock over her stony outlet, and hid her
streams, and withal he made for himself an altar
in the wooded grove close by the fair-flowing
spring. There all men name him in prayer
Telphousian King, because he hath dishonoured
the streams of sacred Telphussa. Then did Apolloin his heart bethink himself what folk he should
fetch as priests, to minister in rocky Pytho, to
offer sacrifices, and tell forth the dooms of Phoebus
Apollo of the Golden Sword, whatso he should
say of weird from the laurel tree in the dells of
Parnassus. As he pondered thereon, he espied on
the wine-dark sea a swift barque. Aboard her
were many good mariners Cretans from Cnossus,
the city of Minos, who to the King . . .
For barter and wealth were they voyaging in
their dark ship to sandy Pylos and the folk of
Pylus. But Phoebus Apollo fared to meet them.
In form like a dolphin he leapt upon the swift ship
in the sea, and lay on deck a huge and terrible
monster. Not one of the crew guessed in his
heart or wotted what he was. .
Translation. 45
He shook the barque on every side and strained
her timbers. And the crew sat still on the ship
in terror. Not even did they undo the tackling in
their dark vessel, nor haul up the sail of their
purple prow, but as first they had set their
sail, so did they voyage on. And the fresh south
wind behind sped on the swift ship. First they
passed Malea, and skirting the Laconian land came
to Helos, a town by the sea, and Taenarus, the
demesne of Helios, who gladdeneth men, where
the long-fleeced sheep of King Helios ever feed,
and possess the pleasant land. There were the
crew fain to put in, and go ashore to mark the
great marvel and behold with their eyes whether
the monster would abide on the deck of the hollow
ship or leap again into the teeming gulf of the sea.
But their trim vessel obeyed not the rudder, but
fared on her way of herself beyond fertile Pelopon-
nesus. And the King, Far Darting Apollo, sped
her lightly before the breeze. Coursing on her
journey she came to Arene, and fair Argyphea,and Thryum, ford of the Alpheus, and well-builded
Aepu, and sandy Pylos, and the folk of Pylos.
On she fared past Krouni, and Chalcis and Dyme,and divine Elis where the Epeans hold sway.
When she was nearing Pherae, exulting in the
wind of Zeus, from out the clouds was revealed to
them the tall peak of Ithaca and Dulichium, and
Same, and wooded Zacynthus.
46 Homeric Hymns.
But when now she had passed clear beyond
Peloponnesus, off Crissa was soon revealed the
wide gulf which bounds the fertile Peloponnese
all along. And there arose a fresh strong west
wind by the will of Zeus, rushing stiffly through
the sky, that the ship might swiftly finish her
course over the briny sea. Back they sailed to-
wards the East and the Sun : their pilot was King
Apollo, Son of Zeus. So they came to far-seen,
vine-clad Crissa, into the harbour, and their sea-
faring vessel grazed the shingle. Then the King,
Far Darting Apollo, leaped from the ship like a
meteor at midday, and many sparks flew from
him, and the gleam flashed into the sky, and
through the precious Tripods he entered his
shrine. There did he kindle his flame and dis-
play his shafts, and the light covered the whole of
Crissa. The wives of the Crissaeans and their fair-
girdled daughters raised their wail at the flashing
of Phoebus, for great fear laid hold on all. Thence
swift as thought, back again to the ship he leaped
and sped, looking like unto a lusty and strong
man in his prime, with his hair covering his
broad shoulders. In winged words he addressed
the crew :
"Strangers, who are ye ? whence sail ye
the watery ways ? Have ye been voyaging for
traffic or at random, like pirates over the sea, whorisk their life as rovers and bring ill to strangers ?
Why sit ye thus downcast, and get ye not ashore,
Translation. 47
nor do up the tackling of your dark ship ? It is
the way with toiling mariners when so in their
dark ship they come ashore from the main, sated
with labour, that forthwith a longing for sweet
food taketh hold of their hearts." Thus he spake
and set courage in their hearts. And to him the
captain of the Cretans made answer, and said :
" O stranger, inasmuch as thou art in nowise like
unto mortal man, either in stature or face, but to
the immortal gods. . . . Health and great joy be
thine, and may the gods grant thee blessings.
Pray, tell me this truly, that I may know for sooth.
What people ? what land is this ? what folk live
here ? We were minded for another land as we
sailed over the great sea, for Pylos from Crete,
wherefrom we claim to spring. But now hither have
we come with our ship by no will of ours (fain for
our return, by other route and other ways), but one
of the immortals brought us hither in our despite."
To them in answer spake Apollo, the Far Darter :
"Strangers, who aforetime have sojourned in
wooded Cnossus, no more now will ye return
again each of you to his goodly city, his fair
homestead, and dear wife. Here will ye keep myrich temple honoured among many folk. The Son
of Zeus am I;
I am hight Apollo. You have I
brought hither over the great sea waste, purposingno ill, but here shall ye keep my rich temple which
all men highly esteem, and ye shall know the
48 Homeric Hymns.
counsels of the gods, by whose pleasure ye shall
ever be honoured through all time. Come, speed
ye to obey my bidding. First loose the ropes and
lower the sails, then haul the swift ship ashore
take out your cargo and the good ship's tackling,
and build an altar on the shore of the sea. Thereon
kindle a fire, and sprinkle in sacrifice withal the
white meal. Then stand ye about the altar and
make your prayer. Whereas at first on the misty
sea, in dolphin shape, I leapt upon your swift ship,
do ye pray to me as Delphinius, and my altar
itself will ever be the Delphian altar, and will be
seen afar. Thereafter do ye dine by the swift
dark ship, and pour libations to the Blessed Gods,
who hold Olympus. And when ye have driven
away the desire of sweet food, come with me
chanting the Paean, till ye reach the demesne where
ye shall keep my rich temple." Thus spake Apollo,
and the men were fain to listen and obey. First
they loosened the ropes and lowered the sails, and
letting down the mast by the forestays, they
brought it to the crutch. Then the sailors dis-
embarked on the shore of the sea, and from the
water hauled on to the land their swift ship high
upon the shingle, laying large blocks underneath.
And they built an altar on the sea-beach, and
kindling a fire sprinkled upon it white grain.
Withal they prayed, as he bade them, standing
about the altar. Thereafter they took their meal
Translation. 49
by the swift dark ship, and made libations to the
Blessed Gods who hold Olympus. But when they
had driven away the desire of food and drink,
they started on the way. King Apollo, the Son
of Zeus went before them, with noble and lofty
stride, his lyre in his hands, playing sweetly.
The Cretans followed him to Pytho, dancing and
chanting lo-Paean, after the manner of the Paeans
of the Cretans, whose breasts the divine Muse hath
inspired with melodious song. With feet unwearied
they drew nigh the hill, and quickly were come to
Parnassus, and the goodly demesne where they were
to dwell honoured of many folk. Apollo led the
way and showed them his wealthy shrine and rich
temple, whereat the spirit was stirred within their
dear breasts. And the captain of the Cretans
enquired of him, and said :
" O King, since thou
hast led us far from friends and dear fatherland
so hath it been pleasing to thy heart we bid thee
tell us how we are even now to live. This fair land
neither beareth vines, nor is goodly with meadows
that we should fare well thereon, and withal minister
unto men." To them with a smile, Apollo, the Son
of Zeus, made answer :
" Foolish mortals, and un-
happy ! who are fain at heart for cares, sore toils,
and straits. Easy is the rede I shall speak and set
in your hearts. Let every man- of you with a knife
in his right hand ever slaughter sheep. All of
those which the famous kindreds of men bring to
50 Homeric Hymns.
me shall be yours, an ample store. Do ye guard
my temple, and welcome the kindreds of men as
they gather hither, and above all, respect mypurpose. But if there be any rashness of word or
deed, or any presumption, such as is common to
mortals, then other men shall be your leaders, bywhom you will be held perforce in thraldom for
ever. All is spoken. Do you keep it in yourheart. Farewell to thee now, O Son of Zeus and
Leto. But I shall remember thee and another
lay."
III.
TO HERMES.
Sing, O Muse of Hermes, the Son of Zeus and
Maia, Lord of Cyllene, and pastoral Arcadia,
Herald of Heaven, and Bringer of Luck. Maia,the fair-haired damsel, the debonair bare him to
the caresses of Zeus. From the gathering of the
Blessed Gods she held aloof, abiding in a duskycave, where at the dead of night that sweet
slumber might be fettering white-armed Hera,Cronion wooed the fair-haired damsel without
the ken of the deathless gods or mortal men.
Now when the purpose of mighty Zeus was ful-
filling (and her tenth moon stood in the sky, she
brought a child to the light, and notable deedswere done). In that hour she gave birth to a
Translation. 5 1
son, subtle of wit and wile, a robber, a reiver
of cattle, a captain of thieves, a prowler of the
night, a pilferer at gates, who was ere long to
make known fine doings among the immortal
gods. (At dawn was he born, at mid-day he
was playing on the lute, in the evening he stole
the oxen of Far Darting Apollo, on that fourth
day of the month whereon the Queenly Maia
bore him.) And the child, when he had leapt
from his mother's womb divine, did not long lie
idling in the sacred cradle, but up he sprang
and crossed the threshold of the lofty cave,
seeking the oxen of Apollo. There he found a
tortoise a prize, a countless treasure. (Out of
the tortoise, Hermes was first to fashion a
minstrel.) He happed on it at the outer door
as it waddled along, cropping the lush grass
afront the cave. At sight thereof, the Luck-
bringing Son of Zeus laughed and hailed it
thus :
" An omen of great luck for me ! I flout
thee not. Welcome ! my beauty ! my dancer !
my feast-mate ! Vision of gladness ! Whencecomest thou hither, my fair toy, my speckled
shell, my tortoise of the hills ? Surely I will
bear thee home in my hands. A boon thou wilt
be to me, and I shall not scorn thee. Yea, thou
wilt do me highest service.' Tis better to bide
at home when there is danger abroad.' For
while alive thou wilt be a charm against baneful
52 Homeric Hymns.
witchery, and when dead thou wilt utter sweetest
music." Thus he spake, and in his twain hands
he raised it, and hied within the house with
his fair treasure. Then he bent the mountain-
tortoise back, and with chisel of grey steel gougedout its flesh. As when swift thought passes
through the breast of a man, whom thronging
anxieties harass;as when glances flash from the
eyes, so swiftly did famous Hermes devise and
do. He pierced holes in the shelly back of the
tortoise, and cutting reed-stalks to the lengths,
fixed them therein. Athwart these by his wit
he stretched an oxhide and fitted on the horns;
to the two horns withal he fixed the crossbar.
Then he stretched him seven harmonic gut-
strings. When he had fashioned with his fingers
the beautiful instrument, he touched the chords
one by one with a plectrum, and the lyre sounded
clearly to his hand. And the god sang to its
accompaniment a beautiful song, improvising as
he sang, as gallants at their feasts bandy reck-
less jests. He told of Zeus, the Son of Cronos,
and Maia, the fair-sandalled, how aforetime they
dallied in wanton love, and the story of his
own famous birth. He sang also of the hand-
maids, and ,the glorious halls of the Nymph ;of
the tripods withal, and the strong caldrons in
the house.
Of such things did he sing, but other were
Translation, 5 3
the thoughts of his heart. He took the hollow
lyre and laid,, it in his sacred cradle, then longing
for flesh-meat he sprang forth from the odorous
hall to survey, pondering in his mind a fell
scheme, such as robbers ply in the dark night-
tide.
Helios had sunk beneath the earth into Ocean
with his chariot and his horses, when Hermes
came running to the misty heights of Pieria,
where the divine oxen of the Blessed Gods had
their stalls, and grazed on the beautiful unmownmeadows. From their herd did the Son of Maia,
Far-gazing Argeiphontes, sunder off fifty lowingkine. From side to side he drave them, over the
sandy ground, inverting their trail. Forgetting not
the art of his cunning, he reversed their hoof-
prints the front behind, the hinder in front and
himself fared again down the mountain. Whenhe had cast his shoon into the sand of the sea,
he plaited wondrous work beyond imagining and
thought, weaving together tamarisk and myrtle
twigs. Then roping together a sheaf of this
sprouting wood, which he had plucked on Pieria,
he tied it as light sandals under his unshod feet,
leaves and all, to disguise his footmarks, and
turned himself from side to side like one hurry-
ing on a secret errand.* But an aged carle, who*
v. 86. Read SoXiyv for 5o\i'x'?i/, dXXor/xjTTTjcras for av
ws, as Baumeister suggests in his note.
54 Homeric Hymns.
was setting a rich vineyard floor, espied him as
he was hurrying to the plain through grassy
Onchestus. Him first the Son of glorious Maia
addressed : "Verily, old Crook-back, digging there
among the trees, thou wilt have wine in plenty
when all these bear fruit. Have eyes, I bid thee,
but see not; have ears, but hear not, and be
silent, as long as no scathe is come to thine own."
With these words he chased forward the strong
kine. Over many a misty fell, and through
echoing glens and'
flowery plains the famous
Hermes drave them. But his murky ally Divine
Night was well-nigh ended, and Morn that calleth
to toil was quickly dawning, when the brave Son
of Zeus drave the broad-backed kine of Phoebus
Apollo to the river Alpheius. Unwearied theyreached the high-roofed byre and the troughs that
edged the shining meadow. When he had there
fed well the lowing kine with fodder, he first
drove them all together within the byre, munchinglotus and dewy clover
;then he gathered a pile of
faggots, and had resort to the art of fire. Lifting
a fine laurel branch he barked it with his knife and
fitted it to his hands, . . . and the warm smoke
arose. And he took many dry brands fit for
burning, and placed these in plenty upon it within
a hollow of the ground. The flame shone out,
darting afar its stream of wide-blazing light.
While the might of famous Hephaestus kept the
Translation. 5 5
fire alit, he dragged out near it two lowing ambling
kine, for his strength was great, and threw them
both panting to the ground upon their backs.
Then bending down he rolled them round, and,
adding task to task, bored out their lives and cut
off the rich fat meat. This he pierced with wooden
spits, and roasted the flesh, the broad chine, and
the dark blood pursed in the entrails all together.
And he laid it down there upon the ground. But
the skins he stretched out on a flinty rock, as even
now in later times they are made enduring a long
time after, a countless time. Therewithal did
merry Hermes drag the fat carcases upon a smooth
reef, and set apart twelve portions by lot to each
god allotting the offering due. Then glorious
Hermes longed for the rite of the flesh-feast, since
the sweet savour distressed him, immortal though
he was. Natheless his stout heart yielded not,
even to his strong desire, to let it pass his sacred
throat. But he placed the fat and the plenteous
flesh in the high-roofed byre, and quickly piled
them high to be a trophy of his recent theft*
And heaping up dry faggots he destroyed the
heads and feet entire with the breath of flame.
When the god had finished all in order, he cast
his sandals into deep-eddying Alpheius, quenched
*v. 136. If ra 5t is to be understood here after the rd. fj.ti> in
134, translate "As to the fat, &c. ... he placed some of it, &c.
... the rest, after heaping up dry faggots, he burned entirely."
56 Homeric Hymns.
the embers, and covered with dust the dry
ashes.
Anon at dawn he reached again the divine
heights of Cyllene. None met him on the long
journey either of blessed gods or mortal men;not
even did dogs bark at him.
With bended head Luck-bringing Hermes, the
Son of Zeus, entered the hall through the bolt-
hole like a wind of autumn or a mist. (And
straightening himself he reached the rich inner
chamber of the cave with soft treading feet;no
creaking of footsteps was on the floor.) Quickly
was glorious Hermes come to his cradle. Wrap-
ping the swaddling clothes about his shoulders,
he lay like an infant, his hands playing with the
coverlet over his knees, his beautiful lyre guardedat his left.
But the god escaped not the eyes of his god-
dess mother, and she addressed him thus :
" Onwhat errand, Trickster, and from whence farest
thou thus in the night-tide, bedight in impudence ?
Erelong, meseemeth, thou wilt either pass forth
through the porch with strong fetters bound about
thy ribs at Apollo's hands, or by-and-bye be a
vile robber in the glens."
To her Hermes made answer with cunningwords :
" Mother mine, why fearest thou thus
for me, as for an infant, which knoweth but little
mischief in its heart a trembling creature, which
Translation. 5 7
feareth a mother's chidings. Verily I shall ply
my shrewdest skill in counselling myself and thee
unceasingly. Nor shall we twain of the immortal
gods brook to remain here without gifts and
prayers. Better far to hold converse for ever
among immortals rich, unstinted, laden with
spoil, than sit at home in a dark cavern. Asfor honour, I too shall obtain like worship with
Apollo. Albeit if my sire grant it not, mine aim
shall be (I have the power) to become a robber
chieftain.
"But if the son of famous Leto seek me out,
methinks I shall outplan him with another, aye,
a greater scheme. For I shall go to Pytho, and
break open his great temple, wherefrom I shall
plunder great store of goodly tripods, and cal-
drons and gold, abundance of flashing iron, and
much raiment. And if thou hast a mind, thyself
shall see it."
Thus were they addressing each other the Son
of Aegis-bearing Zeus and Queenly Maia. But
Morning, daughter of Dawn, was rising from the
deep-flowing ocean, bringing light to men, when
Apollo came on his way to Onchestus, the beauti-
ful grove sacred to the boisterous Earth-Shaker.
There he found an aged carle, the hump-back,
trimming by the wayside his vineyard hedge. Tohim the Son of glorious Leto first made speech :
"Aged hedge-cutter of grassy Onchestus hither,
58 Homeric Hymns.
am I faring in quest of cattle from Pieria all the
kine, the crook-horned kine from my herd. Myblack bull was wont to pasture aloof from the rest,
and my keen-eyed dogs followed in the rear four
of them, clever as men, and one in heart Theywere left the dogs and the bull and herein is
marvel great, but the kine went away from their
sweet grazing in the meadow just when the sun
went down. Prithee tell me, ancient carle, if thou
hast anywhere seen a man wending his way after
my kine."
To him in reply the old man answered and said :
"Friend, irksome were the task to recount all
that the eyes may see. Many wayfarers travel bythe road, on errands some of much evil, others of
great good. It were hard to know each of them.
But for myself, all day was I digging about the
knoll of my vineyard plot. Meseemed, good sir,
that I saw a boy though I know not of a certainty
and this boy, whoe'er he was, a mere babe, was
following strong-horned kine;and he carried a
staff and walked from side to side. The kine he
was driving backwards with their heads towards
him."
So spoke the old man, but the god hearing his
tale hied more quickly on his way. Now he
espied a broad-winged eagle, and straightway knew
that the reiver was the son of Zeus Cronion.
Swiftly then did King Apollo, Son of Zeus, haste
Translation. 59
on to goodly Pylus in quest of his ambling kine,
covering his broad shoulders with a purple cloud.
And the Far Darter caught sight of their tracks,
and spake these words :
" Ye gods ! surely this
is a mighty wonder that mine eyes behold. Those
are the tracks of my horned kine, but they are
turned back to the asphodel meadow. But these
are the footprints of neither man nor woman, nor
of grey wolves nor bears nor lions;and it is no
shaggy centaur, I trow, which with fleet hoofs
maketh such monstrous tracks. Strange footprints
on this side the way, stranger still on that !
"
With these words King Apollo, the Son of Zeus,
hasted forward. And he gat him to the wood-clad
mountain Cyllene, to the deep-shadowed hollow in
the rock where the ambrosial nymph gave birth to
the Son of Zeus Cronion. Over the goodly hill a
sweet scent was spreading, and many long-shanked
sheep were at pasture on the grass. There he now
hurried down the rocky ground into the dim cave
Apollo himself, the Far Darter. But when the
Son of Zeus and Maia saw that Apollo, the Far
Darter, was wroth about his kine, he sank within his
fragrant swaddling-clothes. Like as the piled wood
embers are covered bythe thick ashes, so did Hermes
hide himself at sight of the Far Darter. In small
space he drew together head, and hands, and feet,
like a new-born babe, and with his shell under his
arm courted sweet sleep though full awake. But
60 Homeric Hymns.
the Son of Zeus and Leto failed not to recognise
the fair mountain nymph, and the little boy, her
son, wrapped though he was in sly craftihood.
When he had scanned each recess of the great
cavern, he took a great key and opened three
closets full of nectar and goodly ambrosia. With-
in them were lying much gold and silver, and
many purple and shining garments of the nymphs,such as the hallowed homes of the Blessed Gods
contain. When the Son of Leto had thus searched
all the recesses of the great cave, he spake these
words to glorious Hermes :
" Ho ! boy ! thou lying
there in thy cradle ! tell me of my kine full quickly,
or soon we twain shall quarrel beyond all seemli-
ness. Yea, I shall take and hurl thee into murky
Tartarus, into dread impenetrable darkness. Nor
shall thy mother, nor yet thy father bring thee
back to light, but 'neath the earth shalt thou
wander a leader among men undone."
To him made answer Hermes with crafty
words :
" Son of Leto ! what harsh word is this
thou hast spoken ? Is it cattle of the fields thou
art come here to seek ? I have neither seen nor
heard of them, nor listened to another's story. I
cannot tell of them, nor win the tiding-fee. In no
wise am I like unto some stalwart reiver. That is
no task of mine;
till now I think of other things
of sleep, my mother's milk, my swaddling-clothes
about my shoulders, and my warm baths. May
Translation. 6 1
none learn how this strife hath arisen ! In sooth
it would be marvel great among immortals that a
child new born should cross the threshold after
stall-fed oxen. Absurd is this thing thou speakest!
But yesterday was I born, my feet are tender and
the way is rough beneath. An thou wilt, I shall
swear a great oath by my father's head. I pledge
me that I neither am myself to blame, nor have I
seen any other who stole your kine whatever
kine may be, of that I know but hearsay."
Thus he spake, and with many a darting glance
from his eyes, he winked and looked this way and
that, whistling loudly as he maintained this false
tale. But with a soft laugh Far Darting Apollo
addressed him :
" Thou innocent ! thou cunning
deceiver ! ofttimes, methinks, thou wilt break into
goodly houses by night, and many a man wilt
thou beggar by ransacking his house without noise
so knavish are thy words. And many herds-
men of the fields wilt thou harass in the mountain
glens, whenas thou longest for flesh, and happenest
upon the herds and the woolly sheep. Up, lest
thou sleepest the last long sleep, come down from
thy cradle, thou friend of dark night. This belike
will be thine honour among immortals in days to
come, to be yclept for ever the Robber-Lord."
Thus spake Phoebus Apollo, and took the boyin his arms. Then the doughty slayer of Argos,
as he was lifted in Apollo's hands, bethought him,
62 Homeric Hymns.
and let forth an "omen," a wretched belly-thrall,
an insolent messenger, and straightway thereafter
sneezed. Apollo heard him, and threw famous
Hermes from his hands to the ground. Fain as
he was for the road, he sat down afront him, and
bantering Hermes addressed him thus :
" Good
Luck, Swaddling-bands, Son of Zeus and Maia !
By these omens I shall by-and-bye find my stout
beasts;and thou wilt lead the way." Thus he
spake, but Cyllenian Hermes briskly rose and
hasted forward. With his hands he drew up to
his ears on either side the wrapping that was
folded round his shoulders, and thus replied :
" Whither dost thou bear me, Far Darter, most
furious of all the gods ? Is it for thy kine that
thou dost vex me thus in thine anger ? Perish the
breed of cattle ! Why, I neither stole your kine
myself, nor have I seen the thief;whatever kine
may be, of that I know but hearsay. Let our
cause be tried before Zeus Cronion."
Thus were Hermes the Wanderer and the famous
Son of Leto with angry hearts wrangling over all
the matter at great length. Apollo, on the one
hand, informed by sure augury about the kine,
was holding glorious Hermes captive, but the
Cyllenian god by his craft and wily words was
fain to deceive the God of the Silver Bow. Albeit
when Hermes found him a match for all his wiles,
swiftly did he step over the sand ahead, with the
Translation. 63
Son of Zeus and Leto behind him. Soon were
they come to the heights of fragrant Olympus,these goodly sons of Zeus to their father Cronion.
For there were set for the twain the scales of
justice. Fair was the day on snowy Olympus*and in the wake of golden-throned dawn were the
gods gathering together. In front of the knees of
Zeus, Hermes and Apollo of the Silver Bow took
their place. And Zeus, who thunders on high,
questioned his shining son, addressing him thus :
"Whence, O Phoebus, art thou driving this mighty
booty, this new-born child of herald's mien ?
Pressing matter this to come before the assemblyof the gods." To him in reply spake the King, Far
Darting Apollo :
"Sire, not paltry is the tale thou
soon wilt -hear, though thou tauntest me as beingthe one lover of spoil. This boy here I found a
thorough thief on Cyllene's heights, after I had
fared a long way : a knave beyond all gods that I
have seen, or all the robber-folks upon the earth.
He stole my kine from the meadow, and drove
them off at evening to the shore of the boisterous
sea, making straight for Pylos. Their hoof-tracks
were huge to wonderment, yea, miracles of a
glorious god. For the black dust showed the
steps of my kine facing towards the asphodel
meadow, but this boy himself, peerless contriver,
fared neither with feet nor hands over the sandy
ground. Nay, by other device did he make the
64 Homeric Hymns.
journey, a device as strange as if one were sandalled
with toppings of the oak. So long as he followed
the sandy road, right easily were all the tracks
seen in the dust, but when he had crossed the
great stretch of sand, the trail of the cattle and
their driver became indistinct on the hard ground.
Albeit a man observed him driving the herd of
broad-faced kine straight towards Pylus. Nowwhen he had stalled the kine in peace, and juggled
from one side the road to the other, he laid him
down in his cradle, as if wrapped in dark night, in
the gloom of a murky cave. Even an eagle's keen
glance would not have spied him. Ofttimes did
he rub his eyes with his hands while plying his
craftiness, and bluntly did he at once speak out
his plea."I have neither seen nor learned (of
your kine), nor listened to another's story. I
cannot tell thee of them, nor win the tiding-fee."
When he had spoken thus, Phoebus Apollo sat
him down, and Hermes straightway told his tale
among the immortals, addressing it to Cronion,
Lord of all the Gods. " Father Zeus ! verily I shall
tell thee sooth, for I am true and know not how to
lie. To-day at sunrise came Apollo to our abode,
seeking for his ambling kine. And none of the
Blessed Gods did he bring to witness or to see.
But he bade me speak out under great stress, and
threatened much to throw me into wide Tartarus,
because he forsooth weareth the tender bloom of
Translation. 65
gallant youth, whereas I am but a child of yester-
day, as he himself wotteth, in no wise like unto a
sturdy reiver. Believe me for thou claimest to
be my sire I neither drove home the cattle, I
pledge my happiness thereto, nor did I go over
the threshold. This is sooth I tell. And I highly
reverence Helios and the other gods. Yea, I love
thee and fear him. Thyself dost know that I am
innocent, and I shall swear a great oath thereto.
By these rich portals of the gods I am not guilty ;
and I shall one day yet avenge me upon him for
the cruel charge, strong though he be, and do thou
aid the younger."
Thus spake Cyllenian Argeiphontes with a wink.
And he kept his wrapping-plaid on his arm, nor
cast it off. Zeus broke into loud laughter at the
sight of the mischievous boy, as he gave his shrewd
and clever denial about the kine. The twain he
bade go seek them with one heart, Hermes as
guide to lead the way, and show the place without
guile where he had hidden the strong heads of
kine. Cronides nodded, and glorious Hermes did
his bidding, for easily doth the mind of Aegis-bear-
ing Zeus prevail. So the twain, the goodly Son of
Zeus fared in haste to sandy Pylos at the ford of
the Alpheius. And they came to the pastures
and the high-roofed byre, where Hermes was tend-
ing his booty in the night-tide. There Hermes
forthwith gat him to the rocky cave, and drove the
E
66 Homeric Hymns.
sturdy cattle into the light. But the Son of Leto,
glancing aside, saw the hides on the high rock, and
quickly made question of famous Hermes :
" Thou
Rogue, how hadst thou power, new-born infant as
thou art, to flay two kine ? Of a sooth I dread
thy might hereafter;no need for thee to wax
strong, Cyllenian Son of Maia !
"
* Thus he spake, and with his hands Hermes
began twisting strong bands of withes. And the
withes were soon closely plaited together at his feet
on the ground where he stood, and were placed uponall the stall-fed kine by the counsel of Thievish
Hermes. Apollo was astonied at the sight. Nowthe strong Slayer-of-Argos with many a sidelong
glance looked down at the ground, fain to cover
over (his fault); and deftly did he soften to his
liking the Far Darting Son of Leto, violent thoughhe were. In his left hand he took his lyre and
tuned it with his plectrum, string by string, and
clearly did it sound to his hand. Thereat Phoebus
Apollo laughed \vith joy, and the goodly tone of
the divine music passed through his soul, and sweet
desire laid hold of his heart as he listened. Harp-
ing sweetly on his lyre, Maia's son took courage
and stood on the left of Phoebus Apollo. Anon
* V. 409-413. I take this difficult passage as a practical answer
by Hermes to Apollo's question in 405. By reading dyvwv in 410,
we get an antecedent for rdi; and Keivro for peia at the beginning
of 412, a fairly satisfactory sense.
Translation. 67
playing a clear prelude he began to sing,* and
melodious was his utterance. He told of the
deathless gods and the sombre earth, how at first
they were, and how each god received his allotted
portion. First of the gods he honoured in song
Mnemosyne, mother of the Muses. For she had
been allotted Maia's son. The other deathless
gods, each according to dignity and birth, the
noble Son of Maia honoured, telling all the ordered
tale, as he struck the lyre upon his arm. But a
masterful desire seized Apollo's heart within his
breast, and uttering winged words he spoke to
Hermes :
" O Slayer of Kine, Schemer, who hast
fashioned a comrade for the Feast,t herein hast thou
devised the worth of fifty kine. Now meseemeth,
we shall quietly make our peace. Come, pray tell
me this, Ingenious Son of Maia, have these
wondrous powers been thine since birth, or hath
some god or mortal man gifted them a splendid
boon, and inspired thee with song divine ? Wonder-
ful is this new song I have heard ! Never before,
I trow, hath any known it either of men or of godswho haunt the Olympian Dwellings, save thyself,
O Reiver, thou Son of Zeus and Maia. Whatskill ! what charm against carking cares ! what
* V. 426. d/j.^o\dSriv. Baumeister however, on the authority of the
Scholiast to Pindar, Nem. x. 62, holds the correct interpretation
to be " intenta voce." Following him the translation would be," Anon as he played clearly he lifted up his voice and sang."
t V. 436. Read "irovev/j.fve air6s (raiprrjv."
68 Homeric Hymns.
deftness ! Yea, surely all these are by, to win joy
and love and sweet slumber. Comrade though I be
of the Olympian Muses, the patrons of the dance,
of rich minstrelsy, of swelling music and the pas-
sionate pipe-strain, yet never heretofore hath myheart taken such delight in the festive rites which
attend the carles' merry-makings. Such is mywonder at thy sweet harping. Howbeit since,
young as thou art, thou hast skill in glorious crafts,
sit thee down, my boy, and praise the saying of
thine elders. Know that soon there will be fame
among the immortals for thyself and thy mother.
This is sooth I shall tell. Yea, by this cornel dart
I shall lead thee among the immortals honoured
and glorious, and give thee splendid gifts, and fail
thee not in making it good." To him Hermes
made reply with cunning words :
" Shrewd is thy
request of me, Far Darter, and nought do I be-
grudge thee to master mine art. This day shalt
thou know it, for fain I am to be kind to thee in
rede and word, and thy mind hath good skill in
all things. For first among the immortals, O Son
of Zeus, thou sittest, brave and strong. And Zeus
the Counsellor loveth thee with all reverence, and
hath given thee glorious gifts and honours. Thou
art taught in oracles they say, O Far Darter, bythe voice of Zeus, for all prophecy is his. Andnow I myself have learned thy full prophetic power.
Thy gift it is to know whatever thou desirest.
Translation. 69
Since, then, thy heart prompteth thee to play the
lyre, do thou sing, and harp and make joyaunce by
gift of mine (and win me glory, friend), and take
in thy hands my melodious cleared-toned comrade,
which wotteth how to tell glorious things in order
fair.
" Bear it hereafter boldly to rich feast, to amorous
dance, and to splendid revel a joy by night and
day."If any trained musician doth with art and
skill enquire of it, to him it giveth voice and
teacheth all manner of things pleasant to the
mind;but if any novice doth at first impetuously
enquire of it, in vain discords will he strike the
notes. Howbeit 'tis thy gift to know what thou
desirest. To thee, then, shall I give this lyre,
O noble Son of Zeus. And now we shall graze
down the pastures of hill and fertile dale with
the cattle. So shall the kine coupling with the
bulls bring forth good store of calves, male and
female. There is no need at all that thou, though
eager for gain, shouldst be over-violent in thine
anger."
With these words he held out the lyre. Phoebus
Apollo took it, and placed his whip in the hands
of Hermes, and entrusted to his care the herds.
And the Son of Maia received them with a smile.
Then the noble Son of Leto, the King, Far
Darting Apollo, took the lyre on his left hand,
70 Homeric Hymns.
and with the plectrum touched it string by string.
Sweetly did it sound to his hand. And the God
sang in accompaniment a beautiful song.
Thereafter they turned the kine towards the
lush meadow, and themselves twain, the goodly
children of Zeus, hasted back again to snowy
Olympus, delighting themselves with the lyre.
And Zeus the Counsellor was glad. (The twain
did he unite in friendship. And from that dayforth Hermes loved the Son of Leto, whenas he
gave as a pledge to the Far Darter the lyre he
loved, and Apollo with skill played it on his
arm. Himself withal did invent an art of other
cunning, contriving the far heard music of the
reed-pipes.) Then did the Son of Leto make
speech to Hermes thus :
"I fear thee, Son of
Maia, Leader, Contriver, lest thou rob me of
both my lyre and my bent bow. For thou hast
from Zeus the honour that thou wilt establish
commerce among men over the fruitful earth.
Would that thou wert willing to swear the great
oath of the gods (either with nod of the head,
or by the many waters of Styx), that in all
things thou wilt do what is kind and friendly
to my heart. Then did Maia's son bend his
head and pledge him never to steal what the
Far Darter had, nor draw nigh his strong dwell-
ing. And Apollo withal the Son of Leto plighted
him in troth and love that none other among
Translation. 7 1
immortals should be dearer nor god nor man,
offspring of Zeus. "Yea, I shall make thee a
perfect mediator between gods and men trusted
and precious to my own heart. And of wealth
and riches I shall give thee withal a beautiful
three-leaved rod of gold, which will guard thee
from harm, bringing to fulfilment all the course
of excellent words and deeds which I claim to
have learned from the voice of Zeus. But
prophecy, good Son of Zeus, for which thou
askest, it is granted neither for thee nor anyother immortal to learn. That is the secret of
Zeus. Yea, mine own self did plight my troth
and swear a mighty oath that none other of the
eternal gods save myself should know the prudent
counsel of Zeus. Do thou, my brother of the
Golden Wand, bid me not tell the sacred purposes
which far-seeing Zeus is planning. One mortal
I shall ban, another bless, perplexing much the
kindreds of luckless men. That man shall have
profit of mine oracle, who is led to me by the
cry and flight of perfect birds yea, he shall
have profit of mine oracle, and I shall not
deceive him. But whoso trusteth in false birds
and desireth against my will to consult mine
oracle, and to know more than the ever-living
gods, that man, I say, shall come a fruitless
errand. Albeit I shall receive his gifts. Yet
one thing shall I tell thee, Son of glorious Maia,
72 Homeric Hymns.
and Aegis-bearing Zeus, Thou god of Luck :
There are certain Thriae, maiden sisters three,
that wanton on swift wing. Sprinkled with white
meal are their heads, and they dwell beneath the
folds of Parnassus, teachers of prophecy apart
This art I studied even as a boy when tending
cattle, and my father heeded not. Thence they
fly hither and thither, feeding on honey-comb and
bringing all things to fulfilment. When they are
inspired with eating the yellow honey, full fain
are they to speak the truth. But if they be
robbed of the sweet food of the gods, then falsely
do they speak in mutual confusion.* These then
do I grant thee. Do thou enquire of them truly
and delight thine own heart;and if thou shouldest
instruct any man therein, he will ofttimes listen
to thine oracle, if fortune favour him. This be
thy gift, O Son of Maia, and do thou attend
withal to the ambling cattle of the fields, and the
horses and the toiling mules. (Yea, over glaring
lions, and boars of gleaming tusks, and dogs and
sheep which the broad earth feeds), and over all
flocks be glorious Hermes lord. Let him be the
one appointed messenger to Hades, who, thoughhe hath received no gift,t will grant him highest
honour." Thus did King Apollo pledge the Son
* V. 563. Or reading, Sivo v<rai, "As they whirl about each other."
t V. 573. &doros irep tuv may also be rendered "though niggard
of gifts."
Translation. 73
of Maia with all affection. And Croriion gave
added favour. With all mortals and immortals
doth Hermes consort. Little doth he bless, but
ever through the mirk night he deceiveth the
kindreds of mortal folk.
Hail to thee, O Son of Zeus and Maia, I shall
remember thee and another lay.
IV.
TO APHRODITE.
Sing to me, O Muse, of the deeds of Golden
Aphrodite, who stirreth sweet desire among the
gods, and subdueth the kindreds of men who die,
soaring birds, all beasts, and all the teeming broods
of land and sea. Dear to them all are the deeds
of fair-crowned Cytherea. But three hearts can
she neither win nor beguile. Grey-eyed Athene,
daughter of Aegis-bearing Zeus she hath no
pleasure in the deeds of golden Aphrodite. Nay,her joyaunce is in war, and the work of Ares, in
onsets and combats, and the doing of doughtydeeds. First was she to teach the wrights of earth
to fashion wains and beautiful chariots of brass.
And she teacheth glorious arts to tender maidens
in the halls, inspiring the heart of each.
Nor ever doth smiling Aphrodite conquer in
love clear-toned Artemis of the Golden Distaff.
74 Homeric Hymns.
For her delight is the bow, and the slaying of
beasts on the mountains, the lyre, the dance, the
loud halloo, the shady glen, and the city of just
men.
Nor withal do the deeds of Aphrodite give
pleasure to Hestia, the chaste maiden, eldest child
of Cronos the Crafty (youngest too, by the counsel
of Zeus the Aegis Bearer), queenly damsel whomPoseidon and Apollo wooed. Howbeit she would
none of them, but stoutly refused them. Nay,she swore a great oath which verily hath been
accomplished, her hand on the head of Aegis-
bearing Zeus, her father to he a virgin all her
days, this goddess divine. And in the stead of
wedlock Father Zeus granted her a glorious gift,
and she sat her down in the heart of the hall,
choosing the best portion. In all temples of the
gods is she held in honour, and among all mortals
is she chiefest of the gods.
Of these (three) hath Aphrodite no power to
win or beguile the hearts. But of all besides there
is nought that hath escaped her either of blessed
gods or of men who die. Yea, she hath even led
astray the mind of Zeus the Thunderer, who is the
greatest, and is allotted highest honour. At her
will seducing his stout heart she hath embroiled
him with mortal women, eluding Hera, his sister-
spouse, fairest far of immortal goddesses in beauty.
Glorious daughter is she of Cronos the Crafty, and
Translation. 75
Rheia, her mother. And Zeus the eternal Coun-
sellor made her his chaste and dutiful wife. But
into the soul of Aphrodite herself Zeus sent a
sweet passion, to love a mortal man, that she too
might not long be kept from mortal couch, and
might not some day boast among all the gods and
say with laughter sweet that she, smiling Aphrodite,
had emmeshed the gods in the love of women, who
had borne mortal sons to the immortals, and that
she had emmeshed the goddesses with mortal men.
In her soul therefore he implanted a sweet
passion for Anchises, who was then herding his
cattle on the lofty heights of many-streamed Ida
handsome as the immortals. Him did smiling
Aphrodite see and love, and passion took firm
hold of her heart. To Cyprus she gat her and
entered the fragrant temple at Paphos, where Was
her shrine and an odorous altar. When she was
got within she put to the shining doors. There
did the Graces bathe her and anoint her with
ambrosial oil, such as gloweth upon the ever-
living gods priceless ambrosial oil which had
been offered to her. Then smiling Aphrodite,
busking her body bravely in all her beautiful
attire, and adorning herself with gold, hasted to
Troy, leaving spicy Cyprus, high among the clouds,
swiftly speeding her way. To many-streamedIda she came Ida, the mother of beasts. Over
the mountain she fared straight for the steading.
76 Homeric Hymns.
In her train went fawning the hoary wolves and
cruel lions, bears and swift leopards greedy for the
hinds. At the sight her heart was glad within her,
and she sent desire into their breasts. And they
all laid them down in pairs in the bosky dens, but
herself fared on to the well-builded huts. At the
steading she found the hero Anchises left alone
apart from the others, with beauty from the gods.
The herdsmen were all following their oxen down
the grassy pastures, but he had been left alone at
the steading apart from the rest, and was wander-
ing up and down playing clearly on the lyre. In
front of him she halted Aphrodite, Daughter of
Zeus like unto an unwedded maiden in stature
and beauty, that he might not fear her when he
beheld her with his eyes. Anchises at sight of her
was amazed and wondered at her beauty, and
stature, and shining attire. For she was clad in
a robe brighter than fiery flame, and wore twisted
bracelets and shining earrings. Round her smooth
neck were beautiful necklaces, goodly with gold
and braveries. Like the moon did her soft breast
flash, a wonder to see. Love took hold of
Anchises, and thus he spake to her :
"Welcome,
lady, whoever of the blessed ones thou art that
comest to this homestead Artemis, or Leto, or
golden Aphrodite, or noble Themis, or bright-eyed
Athene. Or peradventure thou art one of the
Graces come hither, who attend all the gods and
Translation."/ 7
arc hailed immortal, or one of the Nymphs who
haunt the beauteous glades (or dwell on this fair
mountain), the river fountains and grassy leas. To
thee shall I build an altar on some height a spot
seen all round, and offer thee goodly victims all
the seasons through. And be thou gracious and
grant me to be excellent among the Trojans !
make my stock fruitful in days to come;and to
myself withal vouchsafe that in long and happylife I may gaze on the sunlight prosperous amongthe kindreds, and reach the threshold of old age."
To him then replied Aphrodite, daughter of
Zeus :
" O Anchises, noblest of earth-born men;
no goddess am I, why liken me to the immortal
ones ? but a mortal, born of a woman. My father is
Otreus, of famous name, belike thou hast heard of
him, who reigneth over all fortified Phrygia. But
thy speech and mine own I know well. For Trojan
was the nurse who reared me in our hall, training
me up from my girlhood, having received me at mymother's hands. So that with thy speech too I amwell acquainted.
"Lately did Argeiphontes of the Golden Staff
snatch me away from the band of clear-toned
Artemis of the Golden Distaff. Amany of us were
sporting, nymphs and courted maidens, encircled
by a countless throng ;albeit from their midst
Argeiphontes of the Golden Staff snatched me
away. He led me over much tillage of mortal folk
78 Homeric Hymns.
and over much ground untilled and unpeopled,
through which among the shaded coverts range
beasts of prey, and I did not even seem to touch
he teeming earth.
" He foretold that by the bed of Anchises I should
be a wedded wife, and bear thee noble children.
And when he had shown this and spoken, verily
the strong Slayer of Argos departed again amongthe kindreds of the immortals. But to thee have I
come mighty necessity was upon me. I beseech
thee by Zeus and your good parents no sorry
folks might beget a man like thee lead me a
maiden, stranger to love, and show me to thy father
and thy dutiful mother, and thy brothers born of the
same stock, if belike I shall be to them an unfit
daughter-in-law or not. And send a messenger
speedily to the Phrygians of the Swift Steeds, to
tell my father and my mother in her anxiety.
"They will send thee good store of gold, and
woven raiment. Do thou take for thyself a full and
splendid dower. When thou hast done this, make
ready a rich wedding-feast honourable amongmen and immortal gods."
With these words the goddess inspired his heart
with sweet desire. Love took hold of Anchises,
and thus he spake and said :
"If mortal thou art
and a woman bare thee, and thy sire is Otreus of
famous name, as thou sayest, and thou hast come
hither by the will of Hermes, the immortal Leader,
Translation. 79
and wilt be my wife for ever, then no one of godsor mortal men will here restrain me from mingling
with thee now in love;not even were Far Darting
Apollo himself to hurl whistling shafts from his
silver bow. Yea, I should be willing, O Lady,
peer of goddesses, to enter the house of Hades once
I had ascended thy bed. Thus speaking he took
her hand. Sweet-smiling Aphrodite turned her,
and casting down her beauteous eyes crept to the
well-spread couch which already had been strewn
with soft rugs for the prince. Above it lay skins
of bears and deep-voiced lions, which himself had
slain among the tall mountains. When they had
got them upon the goodly bed, he stripped from
her body first its bright adornments brooches
and twisted armlets, ear-rings and chains. Next
Anchises loosed her belt, and did off her shining
robes, and laid them upon a silver-studded chair.
Then by the will and decree of the gods he lay bythe goddess, a mortal by an immortal, though he
knew it not.
Now whenas the herdsmen are wearing home-
ward to the steading from the flowery pastures the
oxen and fat sheep, she poured over Anchises a
deep sound slumber, and herself did on her beauti-
ful garments. And having done them all bravely
around her body, the queenly goddess stood by the
couch, and her head reached the well-builded
ceiling. Immortal beauty shone from her cheeks
8o Homeric Hymns.
the very beauty of fair-crowned Cytherea.
From his slumber she awoke him, and spake to
him, saying :
"Arise, Son of Dardanus. Why dost
thou indulge in deep slumber now ? Tell me, if
I seem to thee to be such as at first thou didst
behold me with thine eyes."
Thus she spake. And Anchises right speedily-
heard her from his slumber. But when he saw the
neck and fair eyes of Aphrodite, he was afraid
and turned his glance aside another way. His
handsome face he covered again with his cloak, and
appealing to her spake winged words. " Whenas
first I saw thee with mine eyes, O goddess, I wist
that thou wert divine;but thou didst speak un-
truly. I pray thee by Zeus, the Aegis-Bearer, let me
not dwell among men a living ghost ! Have pity !
since no man is hale who coucheth with immortal
goddesses." To him then made reply Aphrodite,
daughter of Zeus :
" O Anchises, most glorious of
mortal men ! take courage, and be not over-
anxious in thy heart. There is no fear that thou
shouldest suffer scathe from me or the other Blessed
Ones, for thou art dear to the gods. Thou shalt
have a dear son, who will reign among the Trojans,
and children's children will ever be born to him.
Aeneas will be his name, because woeful sorrow
laid hold of me, when I lighted on the bed of a
mortal man. The most godlike of mortal men in
comeliness and stature have ever sprung from thy
Translation. 8 1
stock. It was for his beauty in sooth that Zeus
the Counsellor ravished yellow-haired Ganymede,that he might consort with immortals, and, a mar-
vel to behold, be cup-bearer to the gods in the
house of Zeus, honoured among all the immortals,
pouring ruddy nectar from a golden beaker. But
grief insatiable seized the heart of Tros, and he
wist not whither the divine blast had snatched
away his dear son. So he mourned for him ever
unceasingly. And Zeus had compassion upon him,
and as fee for his son gave him high-stepping
horses, such as carry the immortals. These he gavehim as a gift to keep. And at the bidding of Zeus,
Argeiphontes the Messenger told him all things
how his son was deathless and unageing like unto
the gods. Howbeit when he heard the messageof Zeus, he grieved no more, and his heart was
glad within, and joyfully drave he the wind-swift
steeds.
So too Golden-Throned E5s carried awayTithonus of your race, a peer of the immortals.
She betook her to Cronion of the Dark Clouds, to
pray that he should be deathless and live for ever.
And Zeus consented, and granted her desire.
Short-sighted was queenly E5s, nor wotted she
in her heart to ask for youth, and to get rid of
accursed eld.
Whileas winsome youth was his, in joyaunce of
Eos, the Golden-Throned, Daughter of Mist, he
F
82 Homeric Hymns,
abode by the streams of Oceanus at the world's
edge. And when the first gray hairs streamed
from his fair head and noble chin, of sooth the
queenly Eos withdrew from his bed, though she
kept and cherished him in her halls with food and
ambrosia, and gave him beautiful garments. But
when loathsome eld weighed sorely upon him, and
he could in no wise move or raise his limbs, this
counsel seemed in her heart to be best. She laid
him down in a chamber, and put to the shining
doors. And his voice floweth on unceasingly,
but there is no strength, as of yore there was, in
his supple limbs."I would not have thee in
such frailty to be deathless, and to live for ever
among the immortals. If thou couldest live with
all thy beauty and stature, and be my husband,
grief would not then lap round my shrewd heart
But as it is ruthless eld the common lot will
speedily lap thee round;eld which one day bideth
by men, woeful, and weary, and hated of the gods.
And I shall have great dishonour on thine account,
for ever and aye among the immortal gods, who
aforetime trembled at the words and wiles bywhich I erstwhile embroiled all immortal gods with
mortal women, for my purpose mastered all. But
now no longer will my mouth ope to tell this forth
among immortals, for deep hath been my folly, sore
and nameless, and I have wandered from my wits,
and couching' with a man I have conceived a son.
Translation. 83
That son, when first he beholdeth the sunlight, the
deep- bosomed mountain Nymphs will nurture, they
who haunt this great and fertile mountain, and are
numbered neither among mortals nor immortals.
With them the Sileni and the keen-eyed Argei-
phontes mingle in love, in the shelter of charming
caves. At their birth there sprang up also on the
fruitful earth, pines or tall-crested oaks, fair and
luxuriant. On the tall hill-sides they stand facing
the sun. Groves of the gods they are called.
Never do mortals fell them with the axe. But
whenso death's doom is nigh, the fair trees first
wither on the ground, their bark around them dies,
and the twigs drop off. And at the same time the
soul of the Nymphs leaveth the light of the Sun.
These Nymphs will keep my son and rear him in
their midst. But that I may tell thee all that is in
my mind, in the fifth year I shall come to thee
again with thy son. So soon as thou beholdest
with thine eyes thy child, thou wilt be glad at
the sight ;for godlike indeed will he be. Straight-
way thou wilt lead him to windy Ilium. And if
any man shall ask thee what mother bore thy dear
son, remember to answer him as I bid thee. Saythat he is thy child by one of the blushing Nymphswho haunt this wood-clad hill. But if thou tell
and boast with foolish mind, that thou hast met in
love the fair crowned Cytherea, Zeus in his wrath
will strike thee with a lurid bolt. All is told thee.
84 Homeric Hymns.
Be prudent of heart. Restrain thyself, and speak
not my name, but fear the anger of Heaven."
Thus having spoken, she sprang up to the
breezy sky.
Farewell, O Goddess, Queen of fair-builded
Cyprus. Having honoured thee first, I shall pass
to another hymn.
V.
TO DEMETER.
Of fair haired Demeter, goddess revered, I begin
my song of the goddess and her long-ancled
daughter, whom the King of Hades stole awaywith the sanction of Zeus, the far-seeing Thunderer,
from Demeter of the Golden Sword, the Fruit-
ful. She was sporting with the deep-bosomed
daughters of Ocean, and gathering flowers over
the lush mead the rose, the crocus, the beauti-
ful violet, the iris, and the hyacinth the narcissus
too, which Earth by the counsel of Zeus brought
forth to favour Polydectes, a lure to the dimpledmaid. Wondrous was its bloom, a marvel to the
sight of all, both deathless gods and mortal men.
From its roots withal there shot out a hundred
heads, and at its fragrant scent laughed all the
wide welkin above, and all the land, and the salt
sea wave. The maiden in wonder stretched out
her hands, the twain together, to take the beauteous
Translation. 85
treasure;when the broad-wayed Earth yawned
along the Mysian Plain, and up sprang King Poly-
degmon, the worshipful Son of Kronos, with his
immortal steeds. He seized her all unwilling, and
on his golden car bore her away lamenting.
Loud she shrieked with her voice, calling on Father
Cronides, the highest and best. But no immortal
and no mortal heard her voice, nor did the fruitful
Mead-Nymphs. Only the tender-hearted daughterof Persaeus, dainty-snooded Hecate, heard from
her cave, and Helios the king, noble Son of
Hyperion, when the maiden called on Father
Cronides. But away from the gods was he
seated, apart in his temple, where suppliants throng,
receiving beautiful gifts from mortal men.
Unwilling was Persephone, but her father's
brother, Sovran and Lord of all, many-namedSon of Kronos, with the abetting of Zeus, bore her
away on his immortal steeds. While the goddess
beheld the Earth, the starry sky, the restless
teeming sea, and the beams of the Sun, and still
hoped to see her dear mother, and the tribes of
eternal gods, so long did hope cheer her great
heart, grief-stricken though she were.
The mountain peaks and the depths of the sea
echoed with her divine voice, and her queenly
mother heard it. A sharp pang seized her heart,
and she rent with her dear hands the wimpleround her ambrosial locks, and cast from her
86 Homeric Hymns.
shoulders twain the sea-blue veil, then like a bird
hasted in search of her, over dry land and sea.
None of the gods or of mortal men could tell her
truly, and no omen came to her with soothfast
tidings. Nine days did queenly Deo wander over
the earth, blazing torch in hand, nor ever in her
grief did she taste ambrosia and sweet nectar, or
lay her body in the bath. But when the tenth
light-spreading morn had come, Hecate met her,
torch in hand, and with tidings to tell, spake and
addressed her.
"Queenly Demeter, Bringer of Seasons, Rich
in Gifts, what heavenly god or mortal man hath
snatched away Persephone and vexed thy dear
heart ? Her voice I heard, but mine eyes beheld
not who he was. Speedily let me tell thee all the
truth." . . .
Thus spake Hecate. With no words did the
Daughter of fair-tressed Rheia make reply, but
swiftly along with her darted forth blazing torch
in hand. To Helios they gat them, the sentinel
of gods and men, and halted afront his steeds, and
the glorious goddess questioned him." O Helios, pity me *
by thy sight, if ever byword or deed I have cheered thy heart and soul.
The daughter whom I bore, a scion sweet, in beautyexcellent oft did I hear her voice through the
barren sky as of one being ravished, albeit mine* V. 64. Or reading decis virep,
" For a goddess' sake."
Translation. 87
eyes beheld her not. But thou gazest with thy
beams over all the land and sea from the clear
welkin, do thou tell me truly of my daughter dear
if thou hast seen her anywhere what god or
mortal man hath taken her away from me, forcing
an unwilling maid."
Thus she spake. And the son of Hyperionmade answer :
"Daughter of Fair-tressed Rheia,
Queen Demeter, thou shalt know. Greatly do I
respect and pity thee in thy grief for thy lissom
daughter. None other of the gods is to blame,
save Cloud-Gathering Zeus, who gave her to his
brother Hades to be his cherished spouse. AndHades with his steeds hath carried her off, shriek-
ing loudly, under the murky darkness. But,
goddess, stay thy loud lament. In no wise is
there need that thy wrath should be terrible. Nounfit son-in-law among the gods hast thou in
Hades, Lord of All, thy brother of one lineage.
And for honour he won the right, when first the
threefold division was made, to be lord of those
among whom he dwelleth."
Thus speaking he called to his steeds, and they
at his bidding swiftly bore on his speeding chariot,
like broad-pinioned birds. But a pang more dire
and cruel entered her heart. Wroth then at Cronion
of the Dark Clouds, she forsook the assembly of
the gods and lofty Olympus, and gat her to the
cities and rich farms of men, long time disguising
88 Homeric Hymns.
her form. Nor did any man or deep-bosomed
woman ken her by sight till she came to the house
of wise Celeus, who then was lord of fragrant
Eleusis. By the wayside she sat her down, sore
in heart, at the Maiden Well, where the townsfolks
gat them water, in the shadow where over her
head grew an olive thicket. In semblance she
was like unto an aged woman who is bereft of
child-bearing and the gifts of garland-loving
Aphrodite. Such are the nurses to the children of
doom-giving kings, and the housekeepers in their
echoing halls. The daughters of Celeus of Eleusis
saw her as they went after the easily drawn water,
that they might bear it in golden pitchers to their
father's house. Four godlike damsels in the flower
of maidenhood, Callidice, Cleisidice, lovely Demo,and Callithoe who was eldest of them all. Theyknew her not the gods are hard for men to
recognise but standing near they addressed to
her winged words :
"Who of aged folk and whence art thou, old
dame ? And why hast thou wandered from the
city and art not nigh the dwellings, where there
are women of thine own age, and women younger
too, who would welcome thee both with word and
deed ?" Thus spake they, and the queenly goddess
made answer in words. " Hail dear children,
whoever of women ye are. To you I shall tell mystory. In no wise unseemly is it to speak the
Translation. 89
truth to your questioning. Dos is my name mylady mother gave it. From Crete have I just
come over the broad back of the sea by no wish of
mine. With main force and all against my will
did pirate folks bear me away. With their swift
ship did they in time touch at Thoricus, where the
women thronged ashore and the pirates too. And
they made them ready a meal in the after parts of
the vessel. But my heart had no longing after
sweet food. Stealthily I set out over the dark
mainland, and fled from my insolent masters, that
they might not by selling me, an unbought slave,
enjoy my price. Thus have I got hither in mywandering, and I wot not what land this is, or who
abide herein. To you may all the dwellers in
Olympian palaces grant husbands to wed, and
children to bear, as parents wish. But pity me,
maidens ! be gracious, children dear ! till I amcome to the house of man or woman, that I may
zealously perform for them what tasks befit an
aged dame. I could both carry in mine arms a
new-born babe and nurse it well, and watch the
house, and spread my master's bed in a recess of
the strong-builded chambers, and could teach
women folk their tasks."
So spake the goddess. And straightway in
reply made answer the pure maiden Callidice,
fairest in beauty of Celeus' daughters." Good woman, we must needs bear the gifts of
go Homeric Hymns.
Heaven despite our grief, for Heaven is stronger
far. This clear hint, however, shall I give thee,
and name the men on whom resteth great weight
of honour here, who lead the people, and by their
counsels and right dooms protect the city's ram-
parts Triptolemus the shrewd in counsel, Diocles,
Polyxenus, blameless Eumolpus, Dolichus, and
our noble sire. All their wives manage in their
households, and not one of them would at first
sight scorn thy look and drive thee from her halls.
Nay, they will welcome thee, for godlike indeed
thou art. But if thou wilt, abide here that we maygo to our father's house, and tell all fully to our
mother, deep-bosomed Metaneira, if haply she maybid thee come to our own house and not search
after the dwellings of others. A dear son born in
her age is being reared in her strong hall a child
of prayers and gladness. If thou couldest nurse him
till he reach the fulness of youth, readily would
any of womankind who saw thee be envious, so
many nurse-gifts would she give thee."
Thus she spake, and the goddess nodded assent.
And the maidens rilled their bright vessels with
water, and bore them with pride. Soon they were
come to the great house of their father, and quickly
did they tell their mother all they had seen and
heard. And she bade them go speedily and call
the dame at a generous wage. Like deer or heifers
in spring-time, that gambol over the lea when they
Translation. 9 1
have sated their desire with food, they kilt the
folds of their fair garments and dart along the
furrowed waggon-road. And their tresses waved
over their shoulders like crocus flowers.
They found the glorious goddess by the way-side
where erst they left her, and forthwith led her to
their father's house. She walked behind them
with stricken heart, veiling her head, and her dark
robe curved round her divine tender feet. Soon
they reached the house of god-born Celeus, and
passed through the portico where their lady mother
sat beside the lintel of the strong-builded dwelling,
with her child, a young blossom, at her breast.
To her side the maidens hasted, but the goddessset her feet upon the threshold, and her head
reached the roof beam, and she filled the doors
with a light divine. Then wonder, awe, and wan
fear seized the mother, and she gave place to the
goddess on the chair and bade her be seated.
But Demeter, Bringer of Seasons, Generous Giver,
would not be seated on the shining chair, but
remained silent, casting down her beautiful eyes,
till lambe, the shrewd in wit, placed for her a
strong stool, and cast over it a silver fleece. Then
sitting down she drew her wimple over her with
her hands, and for a long time sat speechless on
her stool, nor greeted any one with word or gesture.
Smileless she sat, tasting nor food nor drink,
wasting away from yearning for her deep-bosomed
92 Homeric Hymns.
daughter, till lambe, the shrewd in wit, with
many a bantering jest won the hallowed lady
round to smile and laugh and wear a kindly mood.
She too in after times also soothed away her
frenzies.
To the goddess Metaneira offered a cup, filling it
with honeyed wine, but she refused it, saying that
it was not right for her to drink red wine. How-
beit she bade them mix meal and water with soft
mint for her drink. And Metaneira made the
posset, and gave it to the goddess as she ordered.
Queenly Deo took it, and made the due libation.
Therewithal fair-girdled Metaneira began these
words :
"Welcome, dame, for I trow that thou
art not of mean but of noble parentage, since
reverence and favour beseem thine eyes, as the
eyes of doom-giving kings. Heaven's gifts despite
our grief we mortals needs must bear, for the yokeis laid upon our necks. But now, that thou art
come hither, all mine shall be thine. Nurse this
my boy, whom the gods gave me in mine age
beyond my hope this child of many prayers. If
thou rear him and he reach the fulness of youth,
then verily any of womankind who sees thee
will be envious for the many nurse gifts I should
give thee." To her in reply spake fair-garlanded
Demeter," All hail to thee also, Lady ! Heaven
grant thee blessings ! Gladly shall I receive thy
child, to nurse him as thou biddest. Never, I
Translation. 93
ween, by the folly of his nurse shall either witchery
harm him or noxious herb. For I know a great
antidote stronger than poison, and a goodly safe-
guard against baneful witchery."
Thus speaking she took the child in her fragrant
bosom and arms divine, and the mother's heart
was glad. So the goddess nursed in the halls the
noble son of warlike Celeus Demophoon, whom
fair-girdled Metaneira bore. And he waxed strong
like unto a god, albeit he neither ate food nor was
suckled with his mother's milk. But by dayDemeter anointed him with ambrosia like the
child of some deity, breathing sweetness over him,
and carrying him at her bosom. By night she
would hide him in the might of fire like a brand,
without the ken of his dear parents. To them it
was marvel great, how he thrived and grew, and
was like the gods to see. And ageless and death-
less would she have made him, had not fair-girdled
Metaneira in her folly watched by night from her
fragrant chamber, and espied her. Raising a cry
she smote both her thighs in terror for her son,
and sore was she troubled in heart, and wailed
forth winged words. " My child, Demophoon !
the strange woman concealeth thee in a great fire,
and worketh grief and bitter cares for me." Thus
spake she in lament, and the queenly goddess
heard her. And in wrath fair-garlanded Demeter
drew out from the fire her dear son whom she bore
94 Homeric Hymns.
in the halls when hope was past, and with divine
hands laid him from her on the ground, deep anger
at her heart. And at the same time she spake to
fair-girdled Metaneira."Silly mortals ! witless to
forecast the weird either of coming good or ill !
Verily by thy folly thou hast worked mischief
irremediable. Know by the ruthless waters of
Styx (the oath of the gods), that immortal and
ageless for ever should I have made thy son, and
won him eternal honour. But now it is impossible
that he should escape death and doom. Howbeit
eternal honour will ever rest upon him because he
hath mounted my knees and slept in mine arms.
In his manhood's prime, when years have rolled,
the sons of the Eleusinians long while will be
joining battle and raising the dread war cry against
the Athenians. . . .
"I am honoured Demeter, sovran help and joy
to gods and men. Come, let all the people build
me a great temple, and an altar near it, below the
citadel and its high wall, on the jutting cliff above
Callichorus. And in person I shall teach myrites, that hereafter by their pious fulfilment ye
may appease my heart." With these words the
goddess changed her size and shape, throwing off
old age and breathing beauty all around her. Afragrance sweet diffused itself from her scented
robe, and far shone the divine gleam from her
immortal flesh, her yellow hair lay over her
Translation. 95
shoulders, and with her brightness as with levin
the strong house was filled. Through the hall she
passed, and straightway the mother's knees were
loosed, and long time was she speechless, and
remembered not her darling child to raise him
from the floor. But his sisters heard his piteous
cry, and leapt from their soft couches. One took
up the child in her arms and laid him in her
bosom, another lit a fire, and a third hasted with
tender feet to raise her mother from the scented
chamber. And gathering around they lovingly
bathed the panting boy, but his heart was not
soothed, for poorer now were the nurses and hand-
maids who held him.
Through the livelong night the women, quivering
with fear, prayed to the glorious goddess. And at
daydawn they told truly to Celeus the Mighty all
the bidding of the goddess, fair-garlanded Demeter.
And he summoned to the assembly the countless
people, and bade them raise a rich temple and an
altar to fair-tressed Demeter on the jutting cliff.
The people speedily obeyed him, and hearkened to
his words, and builded as he commanded : and the
child waxed strong by the will of the goddess.
Now when they were finished and rested from their
labour, they set out each man for his home, but
yellow-haired Demeter sat her down apart from
all the blessed ones, and abode there wasting awaywith longing for her deep-bosomed daughter, and a
96 Homeric Hymns.
terrible and cruel year did she make for men over
the all-nourishing earth, and no seed yielded the
land, for fair-garlanded Demeter destroyed it.
Many a crooked plough did the oxen drag through
the furrows in vain, and fruitlessly did much white
barley fall in the earth. Now had she utterly
destroyed the race of speech-gifted mortals by sore
famine, and robbed the Dwellers in Olympus of
the glorious honour of gifts and sacrifices, had
Zeus not observed and taken counsel in his heart.
First did he send Iris of the Golden Wing to sum-
mon fair-haired Demeter, the winsome in beauty.
This his bidding ;and she obeyed Zeus Cronion,
the Dark Clouded, and sped with swift foot through
the space between. To the town of incense-
breathing Eleusis she came and found dark-robed
Demeter in the temple, and addressing her, spake
winged words." O Demeter ! Father Zeus, whose
purposes are eternal, biddeth thee to join the tribes
of immortal gods. Come then, and let not mybehest from Zeus be unaccomplished." Thus she
spake beseeching, but the heart of the goddess
yielded not. Again thereafter the Father sent
forth to her all the ever-living and blessed gods,
and they hied in turns and summoned her, and
offered her many beautiful gifts, and such honours
as she would choose to receive among immortals.
Howbeit none was able to influence her mind and
purpose, for her heart was wroth, and she stoutly
Translation. 97
refused all their offers. Yea, she maintained that
never would she set foot upon fragrant Olympus,never send up the fruit from the earth till her eyes
beheld the fair face of her daughter.
When far-glancing Zeus, the Deep Thunderer,
heard this, he sent to Erebus Argeiphontes of the
Golden Wand, that by winning over Hades with
soft words he might bring hallowed Persephone
from the murky darkness to the gods in light, and
so her mother might behold her with her eyes,
and abate her anger. Hermes disobeyed not, but
swiftly sprang down under earth's recesses, leaving
the home of Olympus. He found the king within
his palace seated on a couch with his chaste wife,
who was repining sorely from longing for her
mother. And that mother with overmastering
passion was still wroth at the counsel of the
blessed gods. Standing near him the stout
Slayer of Argos made speech :
" O Hades of the
Dark Hair, Lord of the dead, Father Zeus biddeth
me lead queenly Persephone forth from Erebus
among the gods, that her mother may behold her
with her eyes, and cease from her anger and fell
wrath against the immortals. For she is compas-
sing a grievous deed the ruin of the strengthless
tribes of earth-born folk, by burying the seed
beneath the earth, and minishing the honours of
the gods. Fell is her rage, and she consorteth
not with the gods, but sitteth aloof within her
G
98 Homeric Hymns.
fragrant temple, tarrying in the steep town of
Eleusis."
Thus he spake. And a smile rose on the brow
of Aidoneus the Nether Prince, nor was he dis-
obedient to the hests of King Zeus, but speedily
gave bidding to wise Persephone :
"Go, Persephone, to thy dark-robed mother,
with gentle temper and spirit in thy breast, and
lose not heart far beyond all others. Among the
immortals I shall be no unfit husband for thee, full
brother as I am of Father Zeus. While here thou
wilt be mistress of all living and creeping things,
and highest honours shalt thou have among the
gods. Eternal will be the vengeance upon evil
doers who court not thy might with sacrifices, offer-
ing them with all due rites, and presenting accept-
able gifts." Thus he spake, and sedate Persephone
was glad, and quickly leapt up for joy. But Hades,
unobserved, gave her to eat a sweet pomegranate
seed, administering it that she might not all her
days remain on earth beside revered Demeter of
the Dark Robe. Then before her eyes Aidoneus,
Lord of All, yoked his divine steeds to the golden
car. Persephone mounted the car, and by her side
the strong Slayer of Argos took the reins and whipin his hands, and urged the horses forth from the
palace. Naught unwilling did the twain speed on.
And swiftly did they cover the long way, nor did
sea, or streams of water, or grassy dells or cliffs
Translation. 99
check the speed of the divine horses, but above
them they cleft the deep air in their progress. In
front of the fragrant temple he drave them and
pulled them up where fair-crowned Demeter dwelt.
And she at the sight darted forth like a Maenad
from a shady mountain forest.
(Lines 387-395 corrupt.)" And with myself, and thy father, Dark-Clouded
Cronion, thou wilt dwell, honoured among all the
immortals. But if thou hast eaten, thou wilt return
and dwell 'neath earth's recesses for one third part
of the year's seasons, the other two with me and
the other immortals. And when the earth burgeons
with its many fragrant spring flowers, then from
the misty darkness thou wilt arise again, a great
wonder to gods and mortal men. . . .
"And by what guile did mighty Polydegmondeceive thee ?
"
To her in answer spake beauteous Persephone :
"Verily, mother, I shall tell thee all the truth.
When Hermes, Bringer of Luck, Swift Messenger,
came to me from Father Cronides, and the other
Dwellers in Heaven, to lead me from Erebus, that
beholding me with thine eyes thou mightest abate
thy wrath and fell anger against the immortals,
straightway I leaped up for joy. But Hades, un-
observed, gave me the sweet morsel of a pome-
granate seed, and made me eat thereof all against
my will. How he snatched me away by the shrewd
ioo Homeric Hymns,
counsel of Cronides, my sire, and bore me under
earth's recesses, I shall tell thee, and recount all
the tale as thou askest. We were all of us on the
pleasant lea, Leucippe, and Phaeno, Electra, and
lanthe, and Melita, and lache, and Rhodeia, and
Callirhoe, and Melobosis, and Lyche, and blushing
Ocyrrhoe, and Chryseis, and Janeira, and Acaste,
and Admete, and Rhodope, and Plouto, and lovely
Calypso, and Styx, and Urania, and beautiful
Galaxaure. There were we sporting and culling
with our hands the charming flowers, bunches of
fair crocus, and iris and hyacinth, and rosebuds
and lilies a wondrous sight, and narcissus which
the wide earth bore a fell enticement In delight
was I gathering them when the earth gave waybeneath me, and forth leaped the King, mighty
Polydegmon. Off he carried me under the earth
in his golden chariot, though I struggled much,and loudly did I shout and cry. Herein despite
my grief do I tell thee all the truth."
In this wise that livelong day did they in har-
mony greatly cheer each other's hearts and spirits
with love. Their minds were ceasing from sorrow,
and mutual joys did they receive and give. Andto their side came Hecate of the Soft Sword, and
oft did she embrace Demeter's hallowed daughter.oHenceforth she was her royal handmaid and
attendant. But far-glancing Zeus, the DeepThunderer, sent a messenger to them fair- haired
Translation. 101
Rheia, to bring dark-robed Demeter among the
tribes of the gods, and pledged himself to grant her
whatsoever honours she should choose among the
immortals. He promised withal that her daughter
should dwell for the third part of the circling year
under the murky darkness, and for two-thirds with
her mother and the other gods. Thus he spake,
and the goddess did not disregard the behests of
Zeus. Fleet she sped down from the peaks of
Olympus and came to Rarium, erstwhile a teemingfruitful land, but then in no wise fruitful. Fallow
and leafless all it lay, and hidden was the white
barley by the schemes of fair-ancled Demeter.
Howbeit it was, anon, with the waxing spring, to
burgeon with tall corn-ears, and the fat groundfurrows were to be heavy with grain, and the corn
to be bound in sheaf bands. There did she first
set foot from the unharvested air. With joy did
the goddesses behold each other, and glad were
they at heart. And thus did Rheia of the Dainty
Snood address Demeter :
" Hark thee, child, Far-
glancing Zeus, the Deep Thunderer, calleth thee to
-come among the tribes of the gods, and pledgeth
him to grant thee whatsoever honours thou wilt
choose among the immortals. And he hath
promised that thy daughter will abide for one-
third part of the circling year under the murky
darkness, but for two parts with thyself and the
other gods. Thus hath he vouched that it shall
IO2 Homeric Hymns.
be, and given his pledge with his nod. Come then,
my Child, obey him, and be not too unrelenting in
thy wrath against Dark-Clouded Cronion. And
speedily do thou bless the fruit that giveth life to
men."
Thus she spake, and fair-garlanded Demeter
did not disregard her. Speedily did she send upthe fruitage from the rich loam, and all the wide
land was heavy with leaves and flowers. And she
hasted and revealed to the doom-giving kings,
Triptolemus and horse-taming Diocles, and mighty
Eumolpus, and Celeus, Leader of the People, the
function of her rites, and enjoined on all her august
mysteries, which none may violate or search into
or expound, since a great curse from the godschecks the voice. Happy that earth-born man who
hath beheld them ! He who is not initiate and hath
no part therein, never hath equal lot even when
dead beneath the mouldy darkness.
Now when the queenly goddess had impartedall her rites, they went on their way to Olympusto the assembly of the gods, their peers. There
they dwell, august and venerable, in the presence of
Zeus, who delighteth in thunder. Blest indeed is
the earth-born man whom they graciously love.
Speedily do they send as a guest to his great hall,
Plutus, who giveth to mortals abundance.
Come now, ye guardians of the land of incense-
breathing Eleusis, and of sea-washed Paros, and
Translation. 103*
rocky Antron, Queen Deo, revered and generous
Bringer of the Seasons thyself and thy daughter,
beauteous Persephone ! Of your favour grant me
pleasant life in return for my minstrelsy. And I
shall remember thee and another lay.
VI.
TO APHRODITE.
Of beautiful Aphrodite, the revered, the golden
crowned, shall I sing, who is mistress of the heights
of all sea-washed Cyprus, where on the light foam
the might of the moist-blowing Zephyr bore her
over the wave of the boisterous sea. Gladly did
the Golden-snooded Hours welcome her, and
clothe her round with raiment divine. Upon her
immortal head they set a fair and shapely crown
of gold, and in her bored ears jewels of orichal-
cum and precious gold. Her soft neck and white
bosom they decked about with the golden chains
wherewithal the Golden-snooded Hours themselves
were adorned when they went to the charming
dance of the gods and the hall of their sire. Nowwhen they had set all the braveries on her person,
they led her to the immortals. And they at sight
of her gave greeting, and welcomed her with their
hands, and longed each one of them to have her
for his spouse and lead her home, admiring the
beauty of Cytherea the Violet-crowned. Hail !
IO4 Homeric Hymns.
winsome goddess of the glancing eyes ! Grant meto gain the victory in this contest, and adorn mylay. Then I shall both remember thee and
another lay.
VII.
DIONYSUS, OR THE PIRATES.
Of Dionysus, son of glorious Semele, I shall
sing, how by the shore of the harvestless sea he
revealed himself on a jutting foreland like unto a
youth in his heyday. Beauteous dark tresses
waved around him, and on his stalwart shoulders
he wore a purple mantle. Erelong some rovers in
a trim galley hove in sight, speeding over the wine-
dark sea Tyrrhenian folks guided by an evil fate.
At sight of him they nodded to each other and
hastily leaped ashore. And quickly did they seize
him, and set him aboard their ship with exulting
hearts. For they said among themselves that he
was the son of god-born kings, and would have
bound him with cruel fetters. But the fetters held
him not, and the withes fell off his hands and feet
afar. And with a smile in his dark eyes he sate
him down. The boatswain saw it, and straightway
called to his comrades and said :
" Fools ! what
god is this ye have seized, and are fettering in his
strength ? Our trim vessel cannot even hold him.
Of a sooth he is either Zeus, or Apollo of the Silver
Translation. 105
Bow, or Poseidon, for he is like not unto mortal
men, but to the gods who dwell in the Olympianhalls. Come ! let us forthwith land him again on
the dark shore. And lay no hands upon him lest
in his wrath he rouse tempestuous winds and a
great hurricane." Thus did he speak, but the
captain chid him with stinging words :
"Sirrah !
see thou to the wind, take hold of all the ship's
ropes together, and haul up her main sail. This
fellow the crew will look after. He will come,
I trow, either to Egypt or to Cyprus, or to the
Hyperboreans, or further still. And one day at
length he will tell us of his friends, and all his
gear, and of his brethren, for heaven hath put him
into our hands." Thus having spoken he got the
mast and mainsail of the vessel hauled up, the
wind bellied out the sail, and they made taut the
ropes all round. But soon strange wonders were
revealed to them. First there gushed through all
the dark ship a sweet odorous wine, and an
ambrosial fragrance rose. Amazement laid hold
on all the sailors at the sight. And anon by the
sail-tops there stretched out a vine on either side,
with many a hanging cluster. Round the mast
dark ivy wound itself, sprouting with blossoms, and
fair fruit burst forth upon it. And all the thole-
pins had garlands. At the sight the sailors at last
bade the pilot bring the vessel near the shore.
But on board the god changed for them into a
io6 Homeric Hymns.
grim lion at the bow, and roared loudly. And
amidship, showing wonders, he created a grisly
bear, and it stood expectant. Grim and terrible
glared the lion on the high deck. The men rushed
in terror to the stern, and round the honest pilot
stood panic-stricken. But suddenly the lion sprang
forth and seized the captain ;and the crew one and
all, shunning a terrible doom, leaped overboard
together into the awful sea, and were changed into
dolphins. But the god taking pity on the pilot,
held him back, and gave him all happiness, and
said :
" Take heart, good pilot, dear to my soul !
I am blustering Dionysus, whom my mother,
Cadmean Semele, bore to the embraces of Zeus."
Hail ! Son of beauteous Semele ! The manwho forgetteth thee can never compose sweet
song.
VIII.
TO ARES.
Mighty Ares, Charioteer of the Golden Helmet,
stout-hearted Shield Bearer, brazen-clad Guardian
of cities, Strong of hand, and Unwearied, Valiant
Spearman, Rampart of Olympus, Sire of trium-
phant Victory, Champion of Justice, Lord of thy
foes, Leader of righteous men, Prince of Valour,
thou that whirlest thy red sphere among the
seven wandering stars of the sky, where thy fiery
steeds ever carry thee above the third orbit ! Hear
Translation. 107
me, O Helper of Mortals, Giver of gallant youth,
and shed a calm light from on high upon my life
and warlike strength, that I may be able to drive
away woeful evil from my head, and to guide bywisdom the erring impulse of my soul, and check
the keen force of passion, which spurs me on to
engage in chilling battle. Do thou, O Blessed
God, grant me strength to abide in the painless
laws of peace, avoiding the battle din of enemies
and violent death !
IX.
TO ARTEMIS.
Sing, O Muse of Artemis, sister and nurse-mate
of Apollo the Far Darter, Virgin Huntress, who
having watered her teamsters at rush-grown Meles,
swiftly drives her golden car through Smyrna to
vine-clad Claros, where Apollo of the Silver Bowsitteth waiting for the far-shooting Huntress.
Hail to thee, and to all the goddesses with thee,
in this my song ! I shall first begin my hymningwith thee, and beginning with thee shall pass to
another lay.
x.
TO APHRODITE.
I shall sing of Cytherea, daughter of Cyprus, who
giveth honeyed gifts to men, and her lovely face
io8 Homeric Hymns.
ever smileth and weareth the bloom of beauty.*
Hail, O Goddess, queen of goodly Salamis and
all Cyprus, grant me sweet minstrelsy, and I shall
remember thee and another lay.
XI.
TO ATHENE.
Of Pallas Athene, the Terrible, I begin to sing,
the Saviour of Cities, who careth for the deeds of
war, falling cities, the battle din and the onset,
and who saveth the host as they go and return.
Hail to thee, goddess ! vouchsafe to me fortune
and happiness.
XII.
TO HERA.
I sing of Hera of the Golden Throne, whomRheia bore, Queen of the Immortals, excellent in
beauty, sister and spouse of Zeus the Thunderer,
the glorious one whom all the blessed throughout
wide Olympus honour and reverence equally with
Zeus, who delighteth in thunder.
* H. x. 3. "/cat ^0' ifj-fprbv <^pet ftvQos."
This translation suits
the context, but somewhat strains the meaning of <f>tpu. Theother rendering would be,
" And she bringeth the sweet blossom of
youth (to men)."
Translation, 109
XIII.
TO DEMETER.
I begin a song to Demeter, the Fair-tressed,
Revered Goddess, to herself and her daughter,
beautiful Persephone.
Hail, O Goddess ! Save this city, and lead off
my song.
XIV.
TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS.
Of the Mother of all Gods and men sing to me,
O clear-voiced Muse, Daughter of Mighty Zeus.
Her delight is in the rattle of castanet and drum,
mingled with the piping of lutes, in the howling of
wolves and glaring lions, and in the echoing hills
and woodland haunts.
Hail to thee, and to all the goddesses with thee,
in this my song !
xv.
TO HERACLES OF THE LION HEART.
I shall sing of Heracles, the Son of Zeus, whomAlcmene bare in beautiful Thebes from the em-
braces of Dark-clouded Cronion far the bravest
of earth-born men. Aforetime he wandered over
the vast earth and sea at the bidding of King
Eurystheus, and by his own hand wrought many
1 10 Homeric Hymns.
a doughty deed and endured much suffering, but
now in the fair resort of snowy Olympus he
dwelleth in joy with lissom Hebe for his wife.
Hail, O Prince, Son of Zeus, grant to me valour
and wealth.
XVI.
TO ASCLEPIUS.
Of Asclepius, Healer of diseases, I begin to sing,
the Son of Apollo, whom Divine Coronis, daughterof King Phlegyas, bore in the Dotian plain a joy
to men and a charmer of woeful pains. Hail to
thee, O Prince ! I pray to thee in song.
XVII.
TO THE DIOSCURI.
Sing, O clear-voiced Muse, of Castor and
Pollux, and Polydeuces, the sons of Tyndarus,
who were begotten of Olympian Zeus. Themdid queenly Leda bring forth under the peaks of
Taygetus, after secret dalliance with dark-clouded
Cronion. Hail, ye sons of Tyndarus, who ride
upon nimble steeds !
XVIII.
TO HERMES.
I sing of Cyllenian Hermes, Slayer of Argos,Lord of Cyllene and Pastoral Arcadia, Luck-
Translation. 1 1 1
bringing Messenger of the Immortals, whom
Maia, the revered daughter of Atlas, bore after
the love embraces of Zeus. She shunned the
gathering of the Blessed Gods, abiding in a
dusky cave. There did Cronion make love to
the fair-haired nymph at the dead of night,
when sweet sleep was holding white-armed
Hera. And immortal gods and mortal menknew nought thereof.
Hail to thee, Son of Zeus and Maia ! Having
begun with thee, I shall pass to another hymn.
XIX.
TO PAN.
Tell me, O Muse, of the dear Son of Hermes,
the Goat-footed, the Twin-horned, the Musical.
He haunteth the wooded leas with the dancing
nymphs that tread the crowns of steep rock
calling upon Pan, the pastoral god, long haired
and squalid, who is lord of every snowy ridge,
of the mountain peaks and the rocky paths.
Hither and thither he fareth through the thick
underwoods, now sitting by quiet streams, now
wandering among the steep crags, climbing the
loftiest height that overlooks the flocks. Oft he
courseth over the long white hills, and oft with
keen glance he chargeth over the uplands, slaying
the wild beast. And anoai he pipeth all alone
H2 Homeric Hymns.
as he returns from the chase, playing blithe
sweet strains on the reeds. In melody not even
that bird would surpass him, which among the
leaves of blossoming spring pours forth its lament
in gush of honeyed song.
And again the clear-voiced mountain nymphswith nimble feet escort him, and sing by the dark
water springs. And the echo sighs over the moun-
tain top. The god glides now to right, now to left,
in the dance, and now to the centre, and foots it
in many a step.* On his shoulders he weareth a
tawny lynx's skin, and he delighteth his heart
with the strains of music in the lush meadow,where crocus and fragrant hyacinth bloom in
blended confusion with the grass.
The nymphs chaunt of the blessed gods and
lofty Olympus. And above all do they sing of
Hermes, the Luck-bringer, how he is the swift
, messenger of all the gods, and how he came to
many-streamed Arcadia, mother of flocks, where
he hath a shrine as Lord of Cyllene. Here,
god as he was, he shepherded rough-fleeced
flocks in the service of a mortal man. For a
longing desire had stolen upon him to enjoy
the love of the fair-haired daughter of Dryops.He brought to accomplishment love's nuptials,
and the nymph bore to Hermes in the halls a
dear son, from the first a marvel to the eyes,* V. 23. Or "arranges many a step."
Translation. 113
goat-footed, twin-horned, musical, and sweetly
laughing. And the mother springing up, fled
and left her child;for when she saw his uncouth
bearded face she was afraid. But straightway,
Luck-bringing Hermes received him to his arms,
and the god rejoiced exceedingly in heart.
Speedily he hied to the homes of the immortals,
covering the boy with the thick skins of the
mountain hare. Beside Zeus and the other im-
mortals he sat him down, and shewed his son.
And all the gods were delighted in heart none
more than Bacchan Dionysus. They called him
Pan, because he had made merry all their
minds.
Hail, O Prince ! To thee I pray in song. AndI shall remember thee and another lay.
XX.
TO HEPHAESTUS.
Sing, O tuneful Muse ! of deft Hephaestus. Hewith bright-eyed Athene taught glorious crafts to
men on earth, who aforetime dwelt like beasts in
mountain caves. But now trained in arts by the
famous wright Hephaestus, they spend their lives
in their homes with ease and comfort, the whole
year through. Be gracious, O Hephaestus, and
grant me excellence and wealth.
H
H4 Homeric Hymns.
XXI.
TO APOLLO.
Of Thee, O Phoebus, even the swan sings clearly
with the music of its wings, leaping on the bank
by the swirling river Peneius, and of Thee with
his tuneful lyre the sweet-voiced minstrel ever
singeth first and last.
Hail to thee, O King ! I pray to thee in song.
XXII.
TO POSEIDON.
I begin to sing of Poseidon, mighty god of the
sea, mover of earth and barren main, who is lord
of Helicon and broad Aegae. Twofold is the
honour, O Earth-shaker, which the gods have
granted thee, to be Tamer of horses and Saviour
of ships. Hail ! Poseidon, dark-haired Girdler of
Earth ! Do thou, O Blessed God, with gracious
heart, aid the mariner.
XXIII.
TO ZEUS.
I shall sing of Zeus, the best and greatest of
the gods, Far-glancer, King, Fulfiller, who holdeth
Translation. 1 1 5
frequent converse with Themis as she reclineth
on her seat
Be gracious, O Far-glancing Son of Kronos,most glorious and most mighty !
XXIV.
TO HESTIA.
Hestia ! who guardest the sacred shrine of
Apollo, the Far-darter, in holy Pytho, ever doth the
soft olive oil drop from thy locks. Come to this
house, graciously approach with Zeus the Coun-
sellor, and grant also favour to my song.
XXV.
TO THE MUSES AND APOLLO.
1 shall begin with the Muses, and Apollo, and
Zeus. From the Muses and Far-darting Apollo are
the minstrels and harpers upon earth, and from Zeus
are kings. Blessed is the man whom the Muses
love, sweetly from his mouth floweth his voice.
Hail ! children of Zeus ! Honour ye my song.
And I shall remember you and another lay.
XXVI.
TO DIONYSUS.
I begin to sing of Ivy-crowned, boisterous
Dionysus, noble son of Zeus and glorious Semele,
1 1 6 Homeric Hymns,
whom the fair-tressed Nymphs took to their bosoms
from the king his father, and fed and reared him
carefully in the dells of Nyssa. He waxed strong
by the grace of his sire in a fragrant cave, being
numbered among the immortals. Now when the
goddesses had nurtured this famous god, he would
wend down the woodland haunts, thick-garlanded
with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs attended
him as he led the way. And their din filled the
wide forest.
Hail to thee, O Dionysus of the Rich Clusters.
Grant that again in joy we may reach the Time
of Vintage.
XXVII.
TO ARTEMIS.
I sing of Clear-voiced Artemis of the Golden
Distaff, Virgin Revered, Huntress of Stags,
Delighter in arrows, own sister of Apollo of the
Golden Sword, who over the shady fells and
windy heights, in joyaunce of the chase, straineth
her golden bow, loosing her whistling shafts. The
tops of lofty mountains tremble, and wildly echoes
the dusky forest to the cry of beasts;and the
earth thrills, and the fish-teeming sea. Andthe goddess, brave of heart, hies hither and
thither, destroying the race of beasts. But when
the huntress, proud of her bow, is content, and
Translation. 117
hath gladdened her heart, she slackens her bent
bow, and cometh to the great hall of her dear
brother, Phoebus Apollo, in the rich land of
Delphi, marshalling the fair band of Muses and
Graces. Then hanging up the arching bow and
arrows, with fair braveries about her, she leadeth
them out and beginneth the dances. And they,
lifting up their divine voices, sing of fair-ancled
Leto, how she bore as children far the best of the
gods in deeds and counsel.
Hail ! Children of Zeus and fair-tressed Leto.
I shall remember you and another lay.
XXVIII.
TO ATHENE.
I begin to sing of the famous goddess, Pallas
Athene, Bright-eyed, Inventive, Stern-hearted,
Virgin Revered, Valiant Protectress of cities, Trito-
genia, whom Zeus the Counsellor himself brought
forth from his august head in war-gear golden and
bright. Wonder took hold of all the immortals
when they saw it. Quickly did the goddess leap
from the immortal head of Aegis-bearing Zeus,
and stand before him shaking her sharp javelin.
And mighty Olympus trembled terribly under the
weight of the bright-eyed goddess ; the earth around
groaned sorely, the sea heaved in turmoil of purple
waves, and the spray was suddenly belched forth.
1 1 8 Homeric Hymns.
The noble son of Hyperion stayed his fleet
horses for a long time till the virgin Pallas Athene
did the divine war-gear off her immortal shoulders.
And Zeus the Counsellor smiled.
Hail to thee, Child of Aegis-bearing Zeus ! I
shall remember thee and another lay.
XXIX.
TO HESTIA.
O Hestia ! Thou who hast gained an eternal
home in the lofty dwellings both of immortal gods
and of folk who fare below the chiefest honour !
Thou who receivest a fair and precious portion, for
never are banquets of mortals held whereat the
master of the feast doth not pour forth sweet wine
to Hestia, first and last !
And Thou, O Slayer of Argos, Son of Zeus and
Maia, Messenger of the Blessed, God of the Golden
Wand, Giver of good things ! be gracious, and with
revered and beloved Hestia grant me aid. Yetwain haunt the fair homes of earth-born mortals
;
your hearts are kindly to each other, and are skilled
in glorious deeds. Grant to me wisdom and
youth.
Hail ! Daughter of Cronos, and Thou, Hermes
of the Golden Wand, I shall remember you and
another lay.
Translation. \ 1 9
XXX.
TO THE MOTHER OF ALL.
I shall sing of Gaia, Mother of All, Strong-
founded, Most Ancient, who feedeth all things that
are in the world, both things which move over the
divine earth, and in the sea, and things which fly
these are all fed from her store.
By thee, Revered Goddess, are men rich in
children and harvests, and thine it is to give life
to mortals, and take it away. Blessed is the manwhom thine heart shall delight to honour; all
things in abundance hath he. His tillage is laden
with fruitfulness, his fields abound in herds, and
his house is filled with goods. They whom thou
shalt honour, O August Goddess, Bountiful Deity,
rule as lords with good laws in a city of fair
women, and great riches and wealth attend them.
Their children exult in fresh gladness, and their
maidens with blithe hearts sport in flowery dances
and skip over the soft blossoming lea.
Hail ! Mother of the Gods, Wife of starry
Uranos. In thy favour grant me in return for mysong a pleasant life. And I shall remember thee
and another strain.
I2O Homeric Hymns.
XXXI.
TO HELIOS.
O Muse Calliope, begin now to sing of Helios,
the Shining God, whom large-eyed Euryphaessa
bore to the son of Gaia and starry Uranos. For
Hyperion wedded famous Euryphaessa, his own
sister, and she bore to him beautiful children,
rosy-armed Eos, and fair-haired Selene, and un-
wearied Helios, peer of the immortals, who shineth
for men and deathless gods when he hath mounted
his steeds. Terrible is the glance of his eyes from
under his golden helmet Bright beams flash
radiantly from him. On his head bright flaps at
his temples guard his beautiful far-shining face.
About his body flameth a fair and delicate gar-
ment. Fleeter far than the moving wind are his
stallions,* when he driveth his golden chariot
and his steeds, and speedeth them at evening
through the sky to the ocean. Hail! O king,
graciously vouchsafe sweet life. And beginning
with thee, I shall celebrate the race of speech-gifted
heroes, whose deeds the gods have revealed to
men.
*xxxi. 14, 15. I prefer the reading supported by Hermann
\rroi'/rys WIHHTJS ave/juav iroXi) 6aff<roves ITTTTOI'
ei5r' &v 07' I6v<ras, &c.
Translation. 1 2 1
XXXII.
TO SELENA.
Ye Muses, skilled in song, tuneful daughtersof Zeus, the Son of Cronos, sing of the fair-
faced broad-winged Moon. The gleam from her
immortal head, revealed in the sky, rolls round the
earth, and much beauty ariseth under her burning
light. The murky darkness is lighted up from her
golden crown, and her beams flood the air, when
divine Selene hath bathed her fair body in the
ocean, and done on her far-shining robes, and
yoking her strong-necked glossy colts driveth
swiftly forward her rich-maned teamsters in the
mid-month at eventide. Her great orbit is
accomplishing, and her beams are brightest in
the sky when she is waxing to the full. She is a
mark and a sign for men.
With her once the Son of Cronos mingled in the
couch of love, and she conceived and bare a
daughter, Pandia, who was gifted with surpassing
beauty among the gods.
Hail ! O Queen, white-armed goddess, divine
Selene, fair-haired and gracious ! Beginning with
thee I shall sing the praises of heroes, whose deeds
minstrels, the henchmen of the Muses, celebrate
with charming voices.
122 Homeric Hymns.
XXXIII.
TO THE DIOSCURI.
Ye quick-glancing Muses ! sing of the Sons of
Zeus, the Tyndaridae, glorious children of fair-
ancled Leda Horse-taming Castor and blameless
Polydeuces. She brought them forth under the
heights of the mighty hill Taygetus, after the love
embraces of Dark-clouded Zeus her sons the
saviours of earth-born men and swift-faring ships,
when wintry blasts rush over the pitiless sea.
The mariners in prayer invoke the sons of
Mighty Zeus with white lambs, mounting their
vessel's poop. The strong wind and the sea-waves
drive the ship beneath the water. But suddenly
the gods appear darting through the sky on tawny
wing, and straightway they abate the blasts of
vexing winds, and calm the waves on the white sea
waters a happy omen for the sailors, the endingof their toil. They are glad at the sight, and cease
their weary labour.
Hail ! ye Tyndaridae, riders of swift steeds, I
shall remember you and another lay.
xxxiv.
FRAGMENTS OF A HYMN TO BACCHUS.
Some men say that in Dracanum, others in
windy Icarus, others in Naxos, others by the deep-
Translation. 123
eddying river Alpheius, Semele conceived and
bare thee, Eiraphiotes, a divine son to Zeus, who
delighteth in thunder. But some, O Prince, falsely
aver that thou wert born in Thebes. Far from
mortals did the Father of Gods and men beget
thee, hiding from white-armed Hera. There is
a certain Nyssa, a lofty mountain blooming with
woods, far from Phoenice, near the streams of
Aegyptus.
" And they will erect thee many a statue in thy
temples. As these (exploits) are three, men will
ever offer to thee perfect hecatombs every third
year." Thus spake Zeus the Counsellor, and
nodded with his head.
Be gracious, Eiraphiotes, frenzied Lover. Weminstrels sing of thee when we begin and when
we end. In no wise is it possible to forget thee
and remember sacred song.
Hail to thee, Dionysus Eiraphiotes, and to thy
mother Semele, whom men call Thyone.
FINIS.
TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
28411
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